Steven Chase

Argumentum Ad Verecundiam
THE most important concept of LOGIC currently.
It is a form of argument in which the opinion of an authority on a topic, is used to support that argument, instead of facts, reason and clearly measurable observations.

There is no opinion, however absurd, which we will not readily embrace as soon as we can be convinced that it is generally adopted and accepted by 'experts' (ie. Gov't, Scientists, Academics.)And the people came to depend upon the so-called "experts" for the truth of everything that happened in their world, and even the truth of their own experience. And they would not eat, nor drink, nor act, nor deal with illness or injury, without the advice and direction of the so-called "experts." And they came to believe that nothing really existed--even themselves--beyond what could be seen, for the so-called "experts" had taught them. And therefore the people no longer understood or even remembered the laws and principles upon which their own civilization depended. And their civilization fell, and great was the fall of it. - D. Ireland.

Tim adds:

Plato promoted this idea of a ruling class of experts during the Greek Golden Age. Plato was proven decidedly wrong. His "philosopher king" never materialized anywhere. Actually, Plato didn't even take the notion that seriously. He had Socrates say none were wise enough but Socrates - who knew he was ignorant. So none are wise enough to be the philosopher king of Plato. But that doesn't stop people from attempting to create this Republic. The technocracy is just one more attempt to build that which is unbuildable. And in the process this utopianism will bring untold misery, as all utopian philosophies have throughout history. Need I point out that this presupposes a ruling class MUST reign; the "experts" all come from the limited clique of the Ivy League and a few other top schools, and they are all educated alike, and think alike. The benighted yahoos in the country are to be kept from power because they do not have the understanding of those "well educated"; having a degree from a state college defacto makes you unfit to be a philsopher king. It is the ultiamte self-serving ideology.


David Gerrault replies:

Consensus does not science make. Galileo Galilei was placed under house arrest for many many years for telling the truth about the Earth’s rotation around the sun instead of visa versa, which was the "scientific consensus”, but more importantly, the religious dogma of the day.

Tim retorts:

Actually Galileo was imprisoned for being an asshole. He insulted the Pope - his King and his boss - by charicaturing his position and putting it int he mouth of "simplicio". He taught Copernicanism as fact and not theory, and also suggested it was approved by the Church when in reality it was still being investigated. I would call Galileo the "expert" of whom Steven speaks more than anything else. He was lucky he was proven correct. But at the time that wasn't clear at all. Epicycles were involved with both models of the solar system and so Cpernicanism didn't really answer the problems with Ptolemyism.

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at 01:08 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 Harry S Truman had it right when he said "You can't tell an expert anything, because then he's no longer an expert."

Posted by: Dana Mathewson at March 10, 2022 05:07 PM (Qqpeg)

2  Thanks Dana I was wondering what happened to Fauci.

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3 Hehehehe!

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at March 11, 2022 09:22 AM (SKgVr)

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5
There is no opinion, however absurd, which we will not readily embrace as soon as we can be convinced that it is generally adopted and accepted by 

Posted by: Fake Watches at August 28, 2023 02:50 AM (OAWTR)

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