Argument from authority Quotes

“Wikipedia: Argument from authority”

“Cicero, De Natura Deorum It is not what the man of science believes that distinguishes him, but how and why he believes it. His beliefs are tentative, not dogmatic; they are based on evidence, not on authority...”

“Gary Saul Morson, What Is the Intelligentsia? Once More, an Old Russian Question Appeal to an authority which depends on human reason is the weakest kind of proof.”

“Bertrand Russell”

“Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica ...when we engage in argument we must look to the weight of reason rather than authority. Indeed, students who are keen to learn often find the authority of those who claim to be teachers to be an obstacle, for they cease to apply their own judgement and regard as definitive the solution offered by the mentor of whom they approve. I myself tend to disapprove of the alleged practice of the Pythagoreans: the story goes that if they were maintaining some position in argument, and were asked why, they would reply: "The master said so", the master being Pythagoras. Prior judgement exercised such sway that authority prevailed even when unsupported by reason.”