The consensus formation conflict during the disputes about traditional medicine in China's network community

Abstract

In this article, the author made an attempt to reveal the possible factors of the polemical conflict of consensus formation in the controversy about traditional medicine in the network community of China. The research materials are based on semi-structured interviews with active participants selected in China's highest quality Internet Q&A platform, Zhihu. It was revealed that 1) different cognitive frames operate in different positions, related to the philosophy of science, national history and culture, the needs of the economy, ideology and the effectiveness of treatment; 2) the controversy goes beyond the scientific question towards political correctness; 3) The effect of opinion letters is weakened in the formation of consensus.