The logical fallacy you are referring to is called the "appeal to authority" or "argument from authority." It occurs when someone claims that a statement must be true (or false) because an authority figure or expert said it, without providing any further evidence or reasoning to support the claim.
Here's how the fallacy plays out:
- Person A asserts a claim.
- Person B rejects the claim solely on the basis that the source or authority cited by Person A is not an expert in the subject matter.
Example of the fallacy:
Person A: "According to a recent study, eating a certain fruit can cure all diseases." Person B: "That's not true. The study was conducted by a high school student, not a medical expert."
In this example, Person B is committing the appeal to authority fallacy by dismissing the claim solely based on the fact that the study's author is not an expert in medicine. While it is valid to consider the qualifications and expertise of the source, the conclusion should be based on the evidence and logic presented in the study, not just on the lack of credentials of the researcher.
It's essential to critically evaluate claims and arguments based on their evidence, reasoning, and overall merit rather than simply accepting or rejecting them based on the authority or lack of authority of the person making the statement. Even non-experts can make valid arguments if they provide sufficient evidence and logical support for their claims. Similarly, experts can make mistakes or present flawed arguments, so their status as authorities does not automatically make their statements true.