What is a Logical Fallacy?
A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning common enough to warrant a fancy name. Knowing how to spot and identify fallacies is a priceless skill. It can save you time, money, and personal dignity.
What is The Authority Fallacy?
AKA. Appeal to Authority. While appeals to authority are by no means always fallacious, they can quickly become dangerous when you rely too heavily on the opinion of a single person -- especially if that person is attempting to validate something outside of their expertise.
Getting an authority figure to back your proposition can be a powerful addition to an existing argument, but it can't be the pillar your entire argument rests on. Just because someone in a position of power believes something to be true, doesn't make it true.
Example 1:
“Because Martin Sheen played the president on television, he’d probably make a great president in real life.”
Example 2:
“One day robots will enslave us all. It’s true. My computer science teacher says so.”
Example 3:
“This internet news site said that the candidate punches babies. We know that’s true because it’s on the internet.”
Example 4:
"Doctor Oz was a leading heart surgeon and has a successful TV show so I trust what he says about essential oils."
What Girls & Guys Said
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ohhh yes a series on Logical Fallacies?
Yeah i do dislike this one a lot. i just saw a debate where some dude used this "i've seen more of the world then you have therefore im more qualified to speak about them then you are!" smh no bitch!
Authority fallacies are the real damage in society and for organisations. People don't care what they say and how it affects the one listening.
Totally agree!