Inappropriate appeal to authority

What is am inappropriate appeal to authority

• This fallacy is committed if a conclusion c is inferred from the fact that some person or group asserts c, without justifying the right of that person or group to be regarded as authoritative in this matter.

• This fallacy is committed if a conclusion c is inferred from the fact that some person or group asserts c, and has justified the right of that person or group to be regarded as authoritative in this matter.

• Problems relating to Acceptability:

• A type of dog

What problem is an inappropriate appeal to authority relating to.

• Problems relating to Sufficiency:

• Problems relating to Relevance:

• Problems relating to Acceptability:

• A problem relating to structure

Can an argument with an inappropriate appeal to authority be valid

• Yes

• No

• Absolutely

• Definitely not

• Yes but still fallacious

Example of inappropriate appeal to authority

• That old guy in the pub said I’d be okay to have a few drinks and drive home. I had no idea the limit was so high but he said it was.

• Skiing is an outdoor sport like croquet. I absolutely hated croquet. So boring! I’ll most likely hate skiing too.

• Don’t listen to his views on the perils of population growth in Scotland. He has four children

• ‘If you are Spanish then you are an EU citizen. You are an EU citizen, so you must be Spanish.’

Examples of an inappropriate appeals to authority

• Flag burning leads to civil disobedience. Increased disobedience leads to anarchy. If you burn flags there will be anarchy.

• All cats are green.

  my friend has a cat.

  my friend owns something green.

• “My best friend told me nobody ever checks if you have your phone with you in your exams, so I think it will be fine to bring your phone with you.”

• Isn’t the wall just so pretty?

  go and feel it.

  isn't it fantastic?

real life example

• P1. Bob is a very good builder

  P2. Bob says that the moon landing never happened

  _________________________

  C1. The moon landing never happened.

• P1. My parents say santa is real

  _________________________

  C1. Santa is real

Related to Relevance or sufficiency?

• Relevance

• sufficiency?