The argument from authority is a well-known logical fallacy. It goes something like this:

A: ... and so, from samples returned by NASA and spectroscopic analysis, we have determined that the moon is made of green cheese.
B: That's total nonsense. The spectroscopic analysis data is available here and chemical and physical analysis of the returned samples is here. And here is a bibliography listing over 700 studies of lunar composition, based on physical, chemical, spectroscopic, gravitational, electromagnetic, and visual data. Not only is the moon not made of cheese, it's not even organic. Oh, and it's not green.
A: What do you know about it? Professor Frink proved all of this in his book, La Lune Du Fromage. And he's got a PhD.
B: Yeah, Frink has a PhD. In medieval history.

C: You "skep-tic" morons are alike. Professor Frink is a scholar and a gentleman, and his views on lunar composition are the talk of Helsinki.
B: Yeah, right.
D: Did anyone notice that C only joined the forum today, has made only one post, and is using the same IP address as A?
B: How about that. And get this - the IP traces to Frinktown University's Medieval History department!
B&D: Bwahahahahaha!
E: Having fun, skep-tic morons? Can't address the issue, so you resort to ad-hominem attacks!

No links. But you know what I mean.

Update: Okay, I said no links, but this theory needs to be brought to wider attention.

Update: Further philosophical insights into this vital topic of the day from WuzzaDem (thanks Steven!) and Riehl World View.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 11:58 PM | Comments (17) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)