Location
University of Windsor
Document Type
Paper
Keywords
expert, argument from authority, testimony, communication, critical thinking, pedagogy
Start Date
18-5-2011 9:00 AM
End Date
21-5-2011 5:00 PM
Abstract
In academic contexts the appeal to authority is a quite common but seldom tested argument, either because we accept the authority without questioning it, or because we look for alternative experts or reasons to support a different point of view. But, by putting ourselves side by side an already accepted authority, we often rhetorically manoeuvre to displace the burden of the proof to avoid the fear to present our opinions and to allow face saving.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Included in
Authority arguments in academic contexts in social studies and humanities
University of Windsor
In academic contexts the appeal to authority is a quite common but seldom tested argument, either because we accept the authority without questioning it, or because we look for alternative experts or reasons to support a different point of view. But, by putting ourselves side by side an already accepted authority, we often rhetorically manoeuvre to displace the burden of the proof to avoid the fear to present our opinions and to allow face saving.
