Question

What questions do you ask yourself to discern whether or not someone's appeal to authority commits to the ad verecundiam fallacy

A) Is the authority figure an expert in the field relevant to the argument
B) Is the authority figure personally likable
C) Is the authority figure famous
D) All of the above

Answer 1

To determine if an appeal to authority is an ad verecundiam fallacy, relevant questions include the authority's expertise in the field, consensus among experts, agreement with this consensus, and the presence of bias. Personal likability and fame are irrelevant to the credibility of authority.

Step-by-step explanation:

When determining whether an appeal to authority falls into the ad verecundiam fallacy, one must consider various criteria related to the source's credibility and expertise. The answers to the following questions are particularly relevant:

1. Is the authority figure an expert in the field relevant to the argument?
2. Is there a consensus among other experts in the field on the matter?
3. Does the authority's testimony agree with the consensus among other experts?
4. Is there any reason to believe the authority might be biased in their testimony?

Considerations such as whether the authority figure is likable or famous are not relevant to assessing the validity of an appeal to authority and can distract from a factual analysis of the argument.

Truly credible testimony comes from a source that is not only knowledgeable but also free from conflicts of interest and aligned with the broader expert consensus on the topic.