thou shalt not commit logical fallacies

[Hermit]

The authority fallacy only occurs when the "expert" has been falsely called an authority.

I typed this out before but I'll type this out again, really, really slowly, just for you: We are talking about logical fallacies in this thread. It is a logical fallacy to say that X is true because an authority says it's true.

To adapt the relevant words from the Wikipedia once more: "the conclusion [that X is true because authority Y says it's true] does not follow unconditionally in the sense of being logically necessary."

Blindly believing a bona fide authority when they are wrong is something else entirely.

It is a logical fallacy to say that X is true because an authority says it's true.

The fallacy occurs when the premise "they are an expert" is false.

The logical fallacy occurs when it is claimed that X is true because an authority says X is true.

[mistermack]

I like the fallacy of "proof by verbosity".
As extensively used on this site.
I'm not going to mention who by, as it might upset Seth or Coito.

I'm more impressed now that I know that it's got a proper name. I just thought it was just a "deluge of bullshit" technique.

[trdsf]

There are circumstances under which it is appropriate to accept the word of an authority. It's not absolute, but they do exist. It isn't prima facie fallacious.

Please stop conflating empirical truths with logical truths. I am much more likely to take an authority's word for saying that X is true than a random person's post on a forum. This in no way implies that, speaking in terms of logic, X is true because authority Y says it's true.

Well, you are, anyway. Logic has its limits of usefulness, although a whole lot is covered within those limits. While logic is monumentally useful, it's neither the be-all and end-all, nor enough. And I'll take a demonstrable empirical truth over an esoteric logical one any time.

[Hermit]

Well, this thread is about a printable poster containing a list of allegedly logical fallacies, and that is what I'm talking about. Care to read post#3 for context?

[trdsf]

Well, this thread is about a printable poster containing a list of allegedly logical fallacies, and that is what I'm talking about. Care to read post#3 for context?

I saw the poster, quite nice. I also saw that you were making an unjustified extrapolation -- at least unjustified in the real world, where most of us live.

[Tyrannical]

I went to my Doctor and he prescribed me some funny named pill to cure my high blood pressure, but then I saw on TV Dianne Warwick suggesting I should buy this nifty magnetic bracelet instead.

The bracelet does looks kind of cool and is cheaper

The logical fallacy is falsely believing someone is an authority when they are not. The premise is that they are an authority, not if they are correct.

I went to my Doctor and he prescribed me some blood letting and leeches to cure my high blood pressure, but then I saw on TV Dianne Warwick suggesting I should buy this nifty magnetic bracelet instead.

Though a magnetic bracelet would be preferred , you have no logical reason to pick that over the leeches.