{"id":876,"date":"2024-04-12T21:18:47","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T19:18:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/?page_id=876"},"modified":"2024-04-12T21:34:04","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T19:34:04","slug":"argument-dautorite","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/cours-de-methodologie\/argument-dautorite\/","title":{"rendered":"Argument from Authority or Appeal to the Fallacy of Authority"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"876\" class=\"elementor elementor-876\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ec32017 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ec32017\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 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Science<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0721786 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0721786\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-eff37cc\" data-id=\"eff37cc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-212ae77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"212ae77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Contents\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/cours-de-methodologie\/argument-dautorite\/#Argument_dautorite\" >Argument from authority<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/cours-de-methodologie\/argument-dautorite\/#Cause\" >Cause<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/cours-de-methodologie\/argument-dautorite\/#Comment_eviter_une_erreur_dautorite\" >How to avoid an authority error<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Argument_dautorite\"><\/span>Argument from authority<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b2f13b6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b2f13b6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-81a3822\" data-id=\"81a3822\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62cf0fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"62cf0fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>An argument from authority refers to the use of expert opinion to support an argument. Instead of substantiating their claims, a person cites a prominent figure who is not qualified to make reliable claims on the topic at hand. Because people tend to believe experts, appealing to authority often lends credibility to an argument.<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-49 size-thumbnail\" src=\"http:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/logo_sc-150x150.png\" alt=\"autorit\u00e9\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/logo_sc-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/logo_sc-70x70.png 70w, https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/logo_sc-125x125.png 125w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-99a0b39 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"99a0b39\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f3d703\" data-id=\"3f3d703\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c5fdf6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6c5fdf6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cause\"><\/span>Cause<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-03879a3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"03879a3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ee1ca33\" data-id=\"ee1ca33\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5619883 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5619883\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are different types of errors:<\/p><p>Appeal to False Authority Lie: This is the most common variation 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.<\/p><p>Appeal to an anonymous authority: Appeal to an anonymous entity occurs when an arguer attributes a claim to an expert who is neither named nor identified. Vague statements about \u201cexperts,\u201d \u201chistorians,\u201d or \u201cauthors\u201d who believe, say, or have proven something attest to this type of reasoning error. As the experts are not identified, there is no way to verify their knowledge of the subject or the validity of their claims.<\/p><p>Appeal to biased authority: It occurs when a person who truly knows the subject in <a href=\"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/cours-de-methodologie\/parfaire-la-section-resultats\/\">discussion<\/a> makes a statement influenced by one&#039;s own biases or biases, rather than one&#039;s expertise. For example, an expert may have personal, financial, or professional interests at stake that may lead to a biased judgment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e2cb6da elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e2cb6da\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-163a7d2\" data-id=\"163a7d2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49690c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"49690c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Comment_eviter_une_erreur_dautorite\"><\/span>How to avoid an authority error<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-630382b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"630382b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0b37823\" data-id=\"0b37823\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7046bee elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7046bee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This type of reasoning is only fallacious when the person in question <a href=\"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/cours-de-methodologie\/definir-les-questions-scientifiques\/\">question<\/a> 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.<\/p><p>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:<\/p><ul><li>The authority is an expert in the specific area under discussion. Quoting your law student cousin in a discussion on a legal issue is therefore misleading. However, quoting your lawyer, who is competent to advise you, is legitimate.<\/li><li>The authority&#039;s statement falls within its area of competence. If someone is an expert in one area, that doesn&#039;t automatically mean they are an expert in all areas. A doctor, for example, is qualified to talk about diseases, but not about the stock market.<\/li><li>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.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Data Science Home Page Argument from Authority An argument from authority refers to the use of expert opinion to support an argument. \u2026 <\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":47,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-876","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=876"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":893,"href":"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/876\/revisions\/893"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/47"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/guillaume-guerard.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}