Logical Errors

Logical Fallacies

Faulty Arguments

Relevance

Appeal to Authority

The fallacy of appeal to authority uses a famous or highly respected individual as a spokesperson for the conclusion, without presenting any facts that might support it. The speaker asks the hearer, in effect, to accept the conclusion merely because the authority figure says he should. Commercials for many consumer products use the famous person ploy in exactly this way. A radio campaign commercial once touted the candidate for a judgeship by saying, "District Attorney A supports Mr. X. District Attorney B has said he trusts him. District Attorney C has pledged his full support. If D.A.'s trust Mr. X, then you can trust him. Vote for Mr. X in the November election."

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Map of Logical Errors