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Question about the Fallacy Fallacy argument?

Hi, I've been reading and searching a lot lately about logical fallacies and critical thinking. Additionally, I have been watching lots of political debates, recent ones with Ben Shapiro.

Anyhow, I recently just flicked through a video where Ben says to a student that "I urge you not to use the argument from authority as that is a dumb argument."

I make a comment saying that it seems like Ben has also made the "Fallacy Fallacy" argument. And I go onto to say that it seems like he has done this a lot of times (albeit saying a lot of times may have been an exaggeration on my part to be fair).

Then someone else comments and says to me that I just made the "Fallacy Fallacy" by just saying that.

What is your opinion on this guys?
asked on Wednesday, Nov 22, 2017 07:38:04 PM by

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Bo Bennett, PhD
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I recently wrote an article on the use of the "fallacy fallacy." In short, people overuse "fallacy" when the other person actually has a good point or is even right (although technically fallacious).

If someone said "I urge you not to use the argument from authority as that is a dumb argument," then I agree it is a form of the fallacy fallacy. But more important that labeling that is what they are suggesting. If someone said this in response to quoting a scientific consensus, then this is far from a "dumb argument." If someone said this in response to "My grandad was smart and he said..." then yes, it is a dumb argument. But to make a blanket statement that referencing authority is "dumb" is, well, dumb.

answered on Wednesday, Nov 22, 2017 07:46:52 PM by Bo Bennett, PhD

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Jeff Dunstan
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It is certainly the fallacy fallacy, but I do think what the individual actually said should be addressed rather than just explaining Shapiros fallacious reasoning.

I've seen too many examples of people labeling any citation of a credible individual or a survey/study from a reputable organization as an appeal to authority and it's just not correct. We defer to experts because they have knowledge on the subject that may take us years to gain. It wouldn't make sense to even go to the doctor when you're sick if it was actually bad reasoning.

There are plenty of times when referencing or citing an authority is not only acceptable, but reasonable.

I don't know what was said in this particular example you're referring to, but as a reader of Shapiros, I wouldn't put it past him.
answered on Wednesday, Nov 22, 2017 11:10:03 PM by Jeff Dunstan

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