The problem with Quora, as I see it, is the question-answer format lends itself to a restricted form of dialogue which can't really serve the "sense-making" function for society.

Imagine if in the past, journalists could only write about what their readers asked them about. It wouldn't have generated the best result.

We need a system that allows people to put forth their ideas and let them be evaluated by peers. We need the scientific method at scale.

I see. So in Quora several people can answer a question but

1. Nobody can critique the answers

2. Nobody can critique the critique (if you could have such)

3. The Quora-format does not really invite posts like "I think this is the way it is, is there anything wrong with my analysis?"

4. There is no mechanism to vote on consensus about what is the "truth"