Here is a quick tip for seeing if the apparent academic consensus that says C on topic X is really just a clique: Find a review article on X that assumes C, with a lot of space dedicated to describing at length (and with many citations) all the work that has been done supporting C and building on it. If the C consensus is a clique and the review is minimally honest, it will probably have a small section describing a different perspective, with only one or two citations, which when tracked will prove to be review articles on X as long and impressive as the one you are reading but describing a non-C position.