Argument From Authority/ Argument From Authority/ False AuthorityFalse Authority

By: Kenzie SaltsmanBy: Kenzie Saltsman

Definition of Argument From Definition of Argument From Authority/ False Authority!Authority/ False Authority!

• When a person who supplies the When a person who supplies the opinion is not an expert at all, or is opinion is not an expert at all, or is one, but in an unrelated area/ topic.one, but in an unrelated area/ topic.

Universal Example: Not from Universal Example: Not from The Crucible.The Crucible.

• My 5th grade teacher once told me My 5th grade teacher once told me that girls will go crazy for boys if they that girls will go crazy for boys if they learn how to dance.  Therefore, if you learn how to dance.  Therefore, if you want to make the ladies go crazy for want to make the ladies go crazy for you, learn to dance. you, learn to dance.

Examples from Examples from The crucible!The crucible!

• Type of Fallacy: Argument from authorityType of Fallacy: Argument from authority

• Charter Committing The fallacy: Abigail Charter Committing The fallacy: Abigail WilliamsWilliams

• Quote: Quote: I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered everyday blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered everyday because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people- because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people- and this is my reward? and this is my reward?

• The problem: The problem: the problem with the argument is that the problem with the argument is that Abigail Williams has no right to even point out these people Abigail Williams has no right to even point out these people that she thinks are committing these crimes. { she not an that she thinks are committing these crimes. { she not an expert}expert}

Example from Example from The Crucible!The Crucible!

• Type of fallacy: Argument from Type of fallacy: Argument from Authority Authority

• Character committing fallacy: Abigail Character committing fallacy: Abigail Williams and Judge DanforthWilliams and Judge Danforth

• Quote: Quote: You deny every scrap and title of this? Abigail: If I You deny every scrap and title of this? Abigail: If I must answer that, I will leave and I will not come back again! must answer that, I will leave and I will not come back again! Abigail: What look do you give me? I’ll not have such looks! Abigail: What look do you give me? I’ll not have such looks!

• The Problem: The Problem: the problem is that neither one of them the problem is that neither one of them are not experts in anything, Abigail feels that she is the boss. are not experts in anything, Abigail feels that she is the boss.

SourcesSources

• Archieboy Holdings, LLC, Logically Archieboy Holdings, LLC, Logically Fallacious, Appeal To Authority, Fallacious, Appeal To Authority, 2013.2013.

• The Nizkor Project, The Nizkor Project, Fallacy: Appeal to Fallacy: Appeal to Authority, 1991-2012. Authority, 1991-2012.