I actually think both impulses are necessary and useful, but that critical thinking should be primary.

We are social beings, therefore at the societal level, consensus is necessary. But if that's the only criteria, really bad shit happens. Like Organized Religion.

OTOH, a purely rational point of view might tend to reduce people to numbers, and tend to dehumanize.

I could easily write several articles about this, and I suppose in a way I already do.

There are few easy answers.