Nature and agreement

But getting a group of peers to agree with you is not the ultimate proof of truth.

The ultimate proof of truth has more to do with just how large that group of peers is. Let me explain.

Originally, peer review implied that the peers who reviewed your proposal represented a large body of true knowledge. Through much study over many years, they profoundly understood how nature worked. They are then qualified to assess whether your new explanation of nature fits with the overall pattern of truth.

The scope of nature and how it functions: this is what provided the guidelines to evaluate new claims to knowledge. That is how large the domain is that is (or should be) represented by expert "peers."

A problem in academia -- and in our contemporary society as a whole -- is this dubious idea: if you can't get a large group of your peers to agree with you, invent a "sub-specialty." In other words, reduce the number of peers who actually understand you -- all the way down to the number of peers who already agree with you.

When this happens, what is evaluated -- and accepted -- is no longer true knowledge, but whether or not what you say fits a cultural paradigm held by the small group.

I am reminded of when Jesus was challenged to His claims of truth. He said that if men did not acknowledge Him as the King of Kings, even the stones will rise up to attest to who He is.

That is peer review of from the largest group of peers possible. Nature itself always attests to the Truth.

Logos2Go

Luke 19.36-40 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; saying, Blessed [be] the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.