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PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.
Lazarum, arguementum ad
The poor person may be blessed, but is not always right. (140). A reference to the poor man, Lazarus, in the New Testament.
Luke 16:19-31
English Standard Version (ESV)
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side.[a] The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
Footnotes: Luke 16:22 Greek bosom; also verse 23
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Pirie opines that poverty does not enhance an argument. (140). In other words, if someone is poor, it does not enhance his/her argument and make it true. Perhaps for some, human sympathy in regard to a poor person, influences a lack of objectivity in evaluating premises and conclusions.
'Poverty does not contribute to the soundness of an argument.' (141). Of course being in the middle-class or wealthy, does not contribute to the soundness of an argument.
The author's point is technically correct, but then again the status of any person does not make his/her argument true; the correctness of premises and conclusions make an argument true.
If I opine on theology, bible or philosophy of religion, the argument is not necessarily true because I have a related PhD, but if my premises and conclusions are true, my argument is sound. As Pirie notes this fallacy is due to giving attention to the source of argumentation, instead of to the contentions made. (141).
Status does not make an argument true
Far too many take as true an argument from a type of celebrity or authority, without reasonable evaluation of premises and conclusions made.
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