(March 25, 2013 at 9:51 pm)jstrodel Wrote: But you are wrong. Professional scientists and researchers use arguments from authority all the time. The method of reasoning isn't false, it isn't intended to be perfect. It can be fallacious.
Of what sort? If I say "evolution is true because Dawkins says so, and he's an evolutionary biologist so he must be right" I think that could still be considered fallacious.
Now, if I say "Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist, so he is knowledgeable on this topic, and here's the evidence for evolution he has collected" that would not be the same, and would be much for legitimate of an argument.