The Appeal to Authority.

[conuly]

Let's say you're in an argument with somebody, and to prove your point you go "Well, so-and-so says that rubbing your head while patting your tummy (or is it the other way around?) is a sure way to prevent colon cancer!"

Unless so-and-so is a leading researcher in colon cancer, that argument is unlikely to hold much water, right? And even if so-and-so *is* a leading researcher in colon cancer, I'd want to see some research before I begin my new exercise routine. Even experts make mistakes.

And that's the appeal to authority, in a nutshell. A very loosely defined nutshell, but there it is. As a logical argument, it kinda sucks. I mean, it really sucks. Hoo boy, does it ever suck. In the bad way.

But as a child wrangling technique? GOLD STAR.

"Connie! I DON'T WANNA WEAR MY OVERALLS!"
"They make you look cute, and we don't have anything else in this bag. You're sopping wet*."
"THEY NOT MAKE ME CUTE!"
"Hey! You! Do these overalls make Ana look cute? Yes? SEEE?"

And thus the world is saved from watching Ana's bare butt running around. Random strangers can stop an argument short, simply by agreeing with me when I ask them things like "Are we really on Staten Island?" or "Do you think she should flush the toilet?" or "Do you think this blue ball is just as good as that yellow ball?"

It's great. It really is.

And it's your logical fallacy of the randomly determined period of time. Learn it, live it, love it. When appropriate.

*_{Due generally to water tables and sprinklers, not the other stuff, thankfully.}

Comments

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

My favorite may be someone countering the argument that the Christian view that women should be submissive was outdated and a product of the time in which it was written, and in any case Jesus himself never said so, with ... a quote from Corinthians. Y'know, those letters written 2000 years ago, and not by Jesus?