Argument from authority

Overview

An argument from authority is any argument based solely on the credibility or infallibility of a particular entity.

Also known as: "ipse dixit" (Latin: he himself said it), "argumentum ad verecundiam" (Latin: argument to respect)

Related Pages

• Argument from authority is a type of black box argument.

Examples

• "Carl Sagan says there can't be life elsewhere in the universe, so that proves it."
• "God says homosexuality is a sin, so it must be."

Reference

• Wikipedia
• The Nizkor Project