Anonymous Authorities
Definition:
The authority in question is not named. This is a type of appeal to authority because when an authority is not named it is impossible to confirm that the authority is an expert or how the conclusion was arrived at. Though this is just a type of appeal to authority, the fallacy is so common it deserves special mention.
A variation on this fallacy is the appeal to rumour. Because the source of a rumour is typically not known, it is not possible to determine whether to believe the rumour. Sometimes false and harmful rumours are deliberately started in order to discredit an opponent.
Examples:
(i) A government official said today that the new gun law will be proposed tomorrow.
(ii) Experts agree that the best way to prevent nuclear war is to prepare for it.
(iii) It is held that there are more than two million needless operations conducted every year.
(iv) Rumour has it that the President will declare a national holiday on his birthday.
Proof:
Argue that because we don't know the source of the information we have no way to evaluate the reliability of the information or whether it was derived rationally. Insist on seeing the proof for yourself.
References:
Davis: 73
Go back to Brian Yoder's Home Page