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| Rumoured toilet paper truck, somewhere in North America: Facebook |
Verecundiam, Argumentum, Ad: Pirie explains this is an appeal to false authority. (210). A key, quote '...it is a fallacy to suppose that an expert in one field can lend support in another. Unless one has special expertise, he is a false authority.' (210).
Pirie explains that 'Knowledge is specialized, and we have to accept the views of authorities to some extent.' (2010). There is a general reluctance to challenge the view of someone who appears much more qualified than ordinary people. (2010).
When this person (s), the source, is not reasonably qualified, this is an appeal to authority, Verecundiam, Argumentum, Ad. (2010-2011).
A related fallacy is an appeal to an identified authority. (2011). Supposedly, a highly qualified anonymous source (2011), would qualify as an appeal to an identified authority. These sources may or may not, be reliable, but as they are anonymous, Pirie explains, 'All we can do is to accept the apparent authority they have.' (2012).
Or not, I would add...
With his entry on authority, Blackburn states: 'A person, institution, or organization is said to have authority when the power it exercises is supposed legitimate...'(30). Blackburn mentions there is a system of 'norms' by which authority is assumed and asserted. (30).
Blackburn acknowledges that there is 'scepticism about particular claims of authority...' (30). Based on his comments: Blackburn indicates that human society cannot function adequately without a significant acceptance of professional authority guiding that society. (30).
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My take, non-exhaustively, is that authority is worthy of trust when he/she, the source, often professionally, is through the use of specialized, research, knowledge and evidence, providing reasonable and true premises supporting a true conclusion. Providing a sound argument, which is an argument with all true premises.
It is true, of course, that a legitimate authority could be in error on a topic and issue.
Within a topic in context, embracing to significant degrees, arguments from non-experts, those without specialized, research, knowledge and evidence that are highly reliant on types of speculation, is Verecundiam, Argumentum, Ad/Appeal to false authority. This done without reasonable and true premises leading to a reasonable and true conclusion, through, for example, the use of feelings, hunches and guessing is both the fallacy as described and is a philosophical error.
Friday, May 06, 2016 Verecundiam, Argumentum, Ad/To My Friend In Regard To C.S. Lewis
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.
