Anonymous Authority
Anonymous Authority
classification : informal – causal fallacy
The authority in question is not named thus making it impossible to confirm that the authority is an expert.
Foundations
Argument is fallacious when the person in question is not an expert. In such cases the reasoning is flawed because the fact that an unqualified person makes a claim does not provide any justification for the claim.
The claim could be true, but the fact that an unqualified person made the claim does not provide any rational reason to accept the claim as true.
Examples
Experts agree that the best way to prevent nuclear war is to prepare for it.
It is held that there are more than two million needless operations conducted every year.
Other Names
Appeal to rumor
Argument from respect
Hearsay
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