3 ms·

I would emphatically disagree. Consider, in particular, the quote on the linked page that's attributed to Thomas Jefferson, but was (apparently) coined by Glenn

by rosser 11y ago

I would emphatically disagree. Consider, in particular, the quote on the linked page that's attributed to Thomas Jefferson, but was (apparently) coined by Glenn Beck. Appeal to authority isn't fallacious if the authority appealed to is, you know, actually an authority.

ekianjo 11y ago
> Appeal to authority isn't fallacious if the authority appealed to is, you know, actually an authority. It is fallacious in any way, because it detracts the argument by imposing the view of someone else without the need of justification.
- rosser 11y ago
  "A logically valid argument from authority grounds a claim in the beliefs of one or more authoritative source(s), whose opinions are likely to be true on the relevant issue." [0] "The appeal to authority is a fallacy of irrelevance when the authority being cited is not really an authority." [1] "Appealing to authority is valid when the authority is actually a legitimate (debatable) authority on the facts of the argument." [2] [0] http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority [1] http://www.skepdic.com/authorty.html http://www.skepdic.com/authorty.html [2] http://www.logicallyfallacious.com/index.php/logical-fallacies/21-appeal-to-authority http://www.logicallyfallacious.com/index.php/logical-fallaci...
  - ekianjo 11y ago
    I'd like to hear your definition of an authority. For example, how do you define an authority in Economics when experts disagree on conclusions on both sides? There can be no absolute authority for about anything, unless it's actually demonstrated by facts and maths, and if that is the case then there is no need to call for authority but simply explain the proven observations. CQFD.
spdustin 11y ago
I think he means that the name dropping is used by someone (e.g. Glenn Beck) who wants to bypass your bullshit detector by attaching an authority figure to the bullshit they're trying to pass off as important, relevant, or supportive of their view. Whether or not the authority figure attributed is the actual author is irrelevant, it's the intention behind the use of this appeal to authority. To grossly paraphrase George Carlin (who was referring to racial epithets[0]): There's nothing wrong with the mis-attribution of a quote, it's the fraudulent use of a famous authority figure by a trickster you ought to be concerned about. [0] from Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics, "They're Only Words" (track 14)

by rosser 11y ago

ekianjo 11y ago

> Appeal to authority isn't fallacious if the authority appealed to is, you know, actually an authority. It is fallacious in any way, because it detracts the argument by imposing the view of someone else without the need of justification.

rosser 11y ago
"A logically valid argument from authority grounds a claim in the beliefs of one or more authoritative source(s), whose opinions are likely to be true on the relevant issue." [0] "The appeal to authority is a fallacy of irrelevance when the authority being cited is not really an authority." [1] "Appealing to authority is valid when the authority is actually a legitimate (debatable) authority on the facts of the argument." [2] [0] http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority [1] http://www.skepdic.com/authorty.html http://www.skepdic.com/authorty.html [2] http://www.logicallyfallacious.com/index.php/logical-fallacies/21-appeal-to-authority http://www.logicallyfallacious.com/index.php/logical-fallaci...
- ekianjo 11y ago
  I'd like to hear your definition of an authority. For example, how do you define an authority in Economics when experts disagree on conclusions on both sides? There can be no absolute authority for about anything, unless it's actually demonstrated by facts and maths, and if that is the case then there is no need to call for authority but simply explain the proven observations. CQFD.

spdustin 11y ago

I think he means that the name dropping is used by someone (e.g. Glenn Beck) who wants to bypass your bullshit detector by attaching an authority figure to the bullshit they're trying to pass off as important, relevant, or supportive of their view. Whether or not the authority figure attributed is the actual author is irrelevant, it's the intention behind the use of this appeal to authority. To grossly paraphrase George Carlin (who was referring to racial epithets[0]): There's nothing wrong with the mis-attribution of a quote, it's the fraudulent use of a famous authority figure by a trickster you ought to be concerned about. [0] from Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics, "They're Only Words" (track 14)