Appeal to Expert Opinion: Arguments from Authority

Appeal to Expert Opinion examines how arguments from authority function in reasoning and debate. The book analyzes when appeals to expert testimony are legitimate versus fallacious. Through case studies and formal analysis, Walton constructs a framework for evaluating expert-based arguments across fields like science, law, and medicine. The work presents critical questions for testing the credibility of expert claims and identifying common patterns of misuse. The analysis moves beyond traditional approaches to fallacies by considering the pragmatic contexts where expert opinions arise. Walton demonstrates how expert testimony operates within larger dialogues and institutional settings. This systematic treatment reveals how expert authority relates to fundamental issues of knowledge, trust, and the social dimensions of reasoning. The work contributes to understanding both practical argumentation and the broader role of expertise in society.

Readers value the book's systematic framework for evaluating authority-based arguments and its practical examples from fields like medicine, law, and science. The comprehensive catalog of critical questions for assessing expert testimony receives frequent mention in academic reviews. Positives: - Clear breakdown of different types of expert authority - Useful for teaching critical thinking - Thorough treatment of fallacies involving appeals to authority Negatives: - Dense academic writing style - Some sections are repetitive - Examples can feel dated (published in 1997) - High price point noted by student reviewers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 ratings) Google Books: No ratings Multiple academic book reviews praise its applicability to argumentation theory but note it may be too technical for general readers. A philosophy professor on Goodreads writes: "Extremely useful analysis of how we should evaluate appeals to expert opinion...though the prose could be more engaging."

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🔹 Douglas Walton pioneered the study of argumentation schemes and developed a systematic method for evaluating arguments from authority that is now widely used in artificial intelligence and legal reasoning. 🔹 The book introduces six critical questions that can help evaluate any appeal to expert opinion, including whether the cited expert is truly qualified in the relevant field and whether their claims have been interpreted correctly. 🔹 While commonly considered a logical fallacy ("appeal to authority"), Walton demonstrates that arguments from expert opinion can be both reasonable and necessary, particularly in fields where specialized knowledge is required. 🔹 The framework presented in this book has been implemented in various computer systems designed for automated reasoning and argument analysis, including IBM's Project Debater. 🔹 Walton's work bridges multiple disciplines, combining elements from philosophy, logic, law, and cognitive science to create a practical approach to evaluating real-world arguments.