Argument From Authority/ False Authority By: Kenzie Saltsman

Definition of Argument From Authority/ False Authority! When a person who supplies the opinion is not an expert at all, or is one, but in an unrelated area/ topic.

Universal Example: Not from The Crucible. My 5th grade teacher once told me that girls will go crazy for boys if they learn how to dance.  Therefore, if you want to make the ladies go crazy for you, learn to dance.

Examples from The crucible! Type of Fallacy: Argument from authority Charter Committing The fallacy: Abigail Williams Quote: I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered everyday because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people- and this is my reward? The problem: the problem with the argument is that Abigail Williams has no right to even point out these people that she thinks are committing these crimes. { she not an expert}

Example from The Crucible! Type of fallacy: Argument from Authority Character committing fallacy: Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth Quote: You deny every scrap and title of this? Abigail: If I must answer that, I will leave and I will not come back again! Abigail: What look do you give me? I’ll not have such looks! The Problem: the problem is that neither one of them are not experts in anything, Abigail feels that she is the boss.

Sources Archieboy Holdings, LLC, Logically Fallacious, Appeal To Authority, 2013. The Nizkor Project, Fallacy: Appeal to Authority, 1991-2012.