Argument from Authority or Appeal to the Fallacy of Authority

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Argument from authority

An argument from authority refers to using an expert's opinion to support an argument. Instead of substantiating their claims, a person cites a prominent figure who is not qualified to make reliable statements on the topic at hand. Because people tend to believe experts, appealing to authority often lends credibility to an argument.

Cause

There are different types of errors:

Appeal to false authority: This is the most common variant and occurs when someone cites a false or unqualified figure (i.e., an expert who is not a genuine expert). This explains why celebrities are often used in marketing campaigns.

Appeal to an anonymous authority: The appeal to an anonymous entity occurs when an argumentator attributes a statement to an expert who is neither named nor identified. Vague statements about "experts," "historians," or "authors" who believe, say, or have proven something demonstrate this type of fallacy. Because the experts are not identified, there is no way to verify their knowledge of the subject or the validity of their claims.

Appeal to biased authority: This occurs when someone who truly knows the subject... discussion makes a statement influenced by one's own biases or biases, rather than one's expertise. For example, an expert may have personal, financial, or professional interests at stake that may lead to a biased judgment.

How to avoid an authority error

This type of reasoning is only fallacious when the person in question question has no legitimate authority in the field of knowledge in question. For example, quoting Einstein in a debate on education is fallacious, whereas it is perfectly legitimate to cite him in a debate on physics.

Appealing to authority is not always a mistake. Citing the informed opinion of an expert is legitimate in an argument when certain criteria are met:

  • The authority figure is an expert in the specific field under discussion. Therefore, citing your cousin, a law student, in a discussion about a legal issue is misleading. However, citing your lawyer, who is qualified to advise you, is legitimate.
  • The authority's statement falls within its area of expertise. Just because someone is an expert in one field doesn't automatically mean they are an expert in all fields. A doctor, for example, is qualified to speak about diseases, but not about the stock market.
  • There is agreement among experts on the topic under discussion. Although disputes between experts are an integral part of the advancement of knowledge, there are some areas where there are a significant number of legitimate disputes. For example, for every qualified economist advocating a certain position or theory, there is another advocating an entirely different position.