Random832 comments on Logical fallacy poster - Less Wrong

7 Post author: Utopiah 20 April 2012 02:07PM

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Comment author: Michael_Sullivan 22 April 2012 11:00:13PM 1 point [-]

My understanding is that the "appeal to authority fallacy" is specifically about appealing to irrelevant authorities. Quoting a physicist on their opinion about a physics question within their area of expertise would make an excellent non-fallacious argument. On the other hand, appealing to the opinion of say, a politician or CEO about a physics question would be a classic example of the appeal to authority fallacy. Such people's opinions would represent expert evidence in their fields of expertise, but not outside them.

I don't think the poster's description makes this clear and it really does suggest that any appeal to authority at all is a logical fallacy.

Comment author: Random832 23 April 2012 12:39:24PM 0 points [-]

Quoting a physicist on their opinion about a physics question within their area of expertise would make an excellent non-fallacious argument.

"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts."