Appeal to Authority: Not always fallacious, but always something a critical thinker must consider. It is where you are asked to accept something as true based upon the word of an expert (authority). The main question is, "Are they really an expert?" Perhaps they're not an expert in that field, perhaps they've got an ax to grind, or perhaps they are being paid by someone. Endorsement is a type of appeal to authority where someone puts their "stamp of approval" on an idea, candidate, or product. Often this is a celebrity. Testimonial is a type of appeal to authority. It is the word of someone who has had an actual experience. Like many of the terms listed here, testimonials are not always fallacious. Often they are used in such a way that they become anecdotal evidence. For instance, ads for weight loss products feature actual people who lost a lot of weight, supposedly using their product. But, how many people didn't lose weight using it? Could they have lost the weight by other means (more exercise, more vegetables, etc.). Tradition: Though tradition is often a good thing, saying that something is true simply because it is accepted by tradition is fallacious. It is a type of appeal to authority where the authority is all the people who accepted it through time.

Explanation:

While sometimes it may be appropriate to cite an authority to support a point, often it is not. In particular, an appeal to authority is inappropriate if:

(i) the person is not qualified to have an expert opinion on the subject,

(ii) experts in the field disagree on this issue.

(iii) the authority was making a joke, drunk, or otherwise not being serious.

(iv) the authority may have an agenda, vested interest, or other reason to be less than truthful.

Hearsay:

A variation of the fallacious appeal to authority is hearsay. An argument from hearsay is an argument which depends on second or third hand sources.

Examples:

(i) Noted psychologist Dr. Frasier Crane recommends that you buy the EZ-Rest Hot Tub.

(ii) Economist John Kenneth Galbraith argues that a tight money policy s the best cure for a recession. (Although Galbraith is an expert, not all economists agree on this point.)

(iii) We are headed for nuclear war. Last week Ronald Reagan remarked that we begin bombing Russia in five minutes. (Of course, he said it as a joke during a microphone test.)

(iv) My friend heard on the news the other day that Canada will declare war on Serbia. (This is a case of hearsay; in fact, the reporter said that Canada would not declare war.)

(v) The Ottawa Citizen reported that sales were up 5.9 percent this year. (This is hearsay; we are not n a position to check the Citizen's sources.)

Proof:

Show that either (i) the person cited is not an authority in the field, or that (ii) there is general disagreement among the experts in the field on this point.