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appeal to authority

Citing someone whose expertise doesn't cover the question.

An appeal to inappropriate authority supports a claim by citing a person who is not an expert on its subject, or whose experts disagree, or who has an undisclosed interest. Relying on a genuine expert speaking within their field, where experts broadly agree, is reasonable and not a fallacy.

Examples

  • "A famous actor says this mattress cures back pain, so it does."

  • Not fallacious: accepting a structural engineer's judgment that a bridge is safe.

See also

genetic fallacy appeal to popularity
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