Is Wikipedia a reliable source for scientific information?

Answer 1

No. Anyone can submit an entry at Wikipedia but only published works and people that are qualified can make their way into Britannica, or Encarta, or Columbia, or any other encyclopedia for that matter.

Answer 2

Answer 1

Wikipedia is only as reliable as the people who write the articles in it. Often, these people are knowledgeable regarding the subject, and their information is more or less accurate. However, wikipedia remains open to everybody who is so inclined to edit any article in any way they like.

So as with all things internet, the trick is to distinguish between sense and nonsense. A good starting point for this is checking the references. A good article will substantiate its claims with references to scientific papers, scientific literature and other sources that are commonly regarded as accurate or authoritative. Of course your work doesn't stop there: you have to check for yourself how well-regarded these references are.

To sum it up: use your common sense, check the references, check how well-regarded the references are.


Answer 2

Best Answer Covers much better:

"Putting your faith in humans has never worked out. Why do you think it is different now?"

I believe the Buddha answered this question clearly based on objective observations of humans.

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

My parents had a much more modern version: "Don't believe anyone, I don't care who they are. People are full of S##t and stupid beliefs from their upbringing, education, and prejudices. Find the truth for yourself."

In other words being accredited (university degree, Nobel prize, or any idea of intelligence, wisdom as believed by man at one time in history) is no more a reason to believe than any other reason.

Throughout history the "greatest minds" have all believed in nonsense and taught that in the universities There is no difference now.

Absolute Evidence

When a science education system is based on ideas that have no absolutely irrefutable physical evidence, that you can see, test, verify, and repeat the test over in any location and have the same exact results, then you have functional science.

Ideology of the politicians of the time are often disguised as "education". This has always been true. And we know that none of those ideologies are truth because they constantly change.

If it was Truth, it would never change.

If you are not seeking the truth of the matter in all things, then you are only seeking to perpetuate beliefs, ideology, and human emotionally driven faith that may or may not have any truth in it at all.

Objective Awareness;

Objective awareness comes when you are in control of your mind and not under emotional controls of society or any outside emotional force. If they cannot back up what they say or teach with absolutely clear irrefutable evidence then you can rest assured it is not true. This is how you gain control over your education and become productive. If what you base your science on is fallacious then your work will lead to nothing of value.

Money is often used as an emotional force to make people believe or they simply will not get a "degree": no degree = no money.

This sort of emotional coercion to conform to some expected faith based ideology of the society or of the times, is destructive to science.

This emotionally driven force is the cause of extremely obvious obstructions to advancements in science. It has always been this way.

The System Of Things:

Using the system in your favor. It is possible to go through and learn all that humans have to offer in terms of education and never believe a single irrational belief that has been imposed (emotional coercion, fear of loss or fear of failure $) on you.

You can answer the questions as they are expected to be answered in order to get your degree, but that does not mean you are forced to believe any of them.

It is only when you have absolutely irrefutable physical evidence that is obvious to you that you can accept any premise theory or and then and only then can you make a rational conclusion. This is what all the Truth seekers have done for all times.

Emotional Controls of false Authority:

Authority from the system of things as we have at anyone time, are simply those who conformed to the system of authority of any one time and they become the paid produces of the belief systems.

It doesn't mean they are bad people, but they ARE PEOPLE, with all the weaknesses, emotions, ideology, faith prejudices and beliefs, that humans have. The most kind and loving people can mislead you as much as any other type of person.

So, basically, you must find the Truth for yourself, and stop simply laying down for any authority, any other person.