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Rolly

Proof by Appearance

Dear Dr. Bo,

I really enjoy parsing through your side and using it as a reference to point out faulty logic when being confronted with the usual gibberish you have in the 'net. When stumbling over this (sorry, german) video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBu0Eo3zRl0

where a philosoph tries doing physics and fails miserably, I searched for the fallacie "Proof by Appearance" which basically means the one telling something is coming over so serious, well mannered, perfectly groomed etc. that his argument just HAS to have value. I did not find something in your database and want to ask if it is valuable enough to include it. Incidentially, Terry Pratchett makes great use of this in the figure of Moist von Lipwig.

best regards, Christian
asked on Thursday, Dec 09, 2021 09:03:57 AM by Rolly

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Bo Bennett, PhD
1

This might fit under

proof by intimidation(the "professionalism" can be intimidating)

argument by personal charm

of even

argument by gibberish

Note that for this general class of fallacies, the error in reasoning is typically on the part of the viewer who mistakes the professionalism, charm, gibberish, etc. for truth. It would be too presumptions for us to say that the speaker is deliberately trying to trick people—unless we have evidence for this.
answered on Thursday, Dec 09, 2021 09:48:51 AM by Bo Bennett, PhD

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Rolly writes:

Thanks Bo, argument by personal charm was the one I overlooked!

posted on Thursday, Dec 09, 2021 11:36:41 AM