Appeals to Authority

Appeal to Authority

Appeal to authority is contention based on unsound logic. When people talk of appeals to authority; they claim that something ought to be true since it is believed by a person who is said to be an authority on the matter. Regardless of if the individual is an authority or not, the logic is unsound. Rather than presenting real proof, the argument simply depends on the reliability of the authority.

Examples of Appeal to Authority

An example of appeal to authority is when a book asserts that global warming is not happening and cites a study by one scientist who has been researching on climate change for a long time. Indeed scientists do know a lot on climate, but one scientist is not an authority on the matter, numerous studies from different scientists and other experts have to be compiled and evaluated to know the truth on the subject. Another example is a commercial claiming that a particular brand of toothpaste is good because a dentist would recommend it. Dentist here is assumed to be the authority on matters dealing with toothpaste. Also, a person claims that drinking alcohol is wrong because a pastor said it.

Personal Experience

I remember when growing up, I greatly admired Michael Jordan. When he appeared in underwear commercial, I fully believed that indeed that is the only underwear he wears and would insist that my parents buy me one from the same brand. It is now I realize that it was just marketing gimmick.

The Deception of Appeals to Authority

Appeals to authority often tend to deceive people because the person involved is believed to be an authority of the sort on the matter. For instance, as aforementioned, when a scientist claims something is true, it is easier to believe them than an ordinary person. When a doctor claims certain things causes cancer or teacher claims the certain school is the best, people trust it since this is their area of expertise and they are presumed to know better. It can be difficult to know which sources to trust because the people assumed to be the authority have some ties or level of knowledge on the subject matter (Whitman, 2008). People also tend to believe everything on media which deceive them most of the time.

Critical Thinking and Evaluating Sources

People, therefore, ought to be keen and scrutinize everything, even if it means getting a second or third opinion on an issue before settling on it. Indeed there are the best sources but discerning it from the false one can be a challenge. Statements from scientists, scholars, academics and such experts should not just be trusted; people should know who they are, what research they have done and independently evaluate the data or evidence used (Whitman, 2008). A statement like environmental experts have claimed there is no global warming is not factual. People should inquire about who the said experts are, what data are they using and when did they come up with such conclusions. Asking such questions and not taking what 'experts' say as gospel truth goes a long way in knowing the real sources.

Reference

Whitman, D. (2008). An appeal to authority. Education Next, 8(4).