The Crucible False Authority What is False Authority

The Crucible False Authority

What is False Authority? • Person A is (claimed to be) an authority on subject S. • Person A makes claim C about subject S. • Therefore, C is true.

• Barney thinks that he is in authority of what is right and wrong just because he has his bible personalized with his name on the front.

Political Commercial • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=z. Q 5 c. G YBV 2 TQ • Politicians do things that make them look like they have more authority in order to be elected to office. They do such things as enlist in the military for minimum amount of time to add to their resume and make their leadership skills look more advanced.

Pop Culture Examples Sophie and Sasha are having a conversation: • Sasha: "I played the lottery today and I know I am going to win something. " Sophie: "What did you do, rig the outcome? " Sasha: "No, silly. I called my Super Psychic Buddy at the 1 -800 -Mind. Power number. After consulting his magic Californian Tarot deck, he told me my lucky numbers. " Sophie: "And you believed him? " Sasha: "Certainly, he is a certified Californian Master-Mind Psychic. That is why I believe what he has to say. I mean, like, who else would know what my lucky numbers are? "

Pop Culture Examples • A professional baseball player says that he does not use steroids so therefore baseball players do not use steroids.

Crucible Examples • • False Authority Character: Mary Warren Act 2—pg. 132 Elizabeth: It is a mouse no more. I forbid her go, and she raises up her chin like the daughter of a prince and says to me, “I must go to Salem, Goody Proctor; I am an official of the court. ” • Problem: Goody Proctor is the woman of the Proctor household yet Mary Warren feels that she has the authority to go against Goody Proctors wishes.

Crucible Examples • • False Authority Character: Abigail Act 3—pg. 219 Abigail: Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. I think you be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits? Beware of it! • Problem: Mary Warren has just told the court that she lied about the accusations that she made, she also tells them that Abigail is lying. Abigail is asked to search her heart and tell the truth. She is devastated that she has been through so much and feels this makes her an authority on the matter and that it is ridiculous for the court to be asking this question to her.

Crucible Examples • • False Authority Character: Abigail Act 3—pg. 221 Abigail: If I must answer that, I will leave and I will not come back again! • Problem: Abigail has just been asked to confirm whether and Proctor had relations, she is appalled by the thought that the court would even ask her this. She takes authority over Danforth because she feels that all the things that has happened to her has made her better than something this low and immoral.

Work Cited "Fallacy: Appeal to Authority. " The Nizkor Project, 2011. Web. 15 Feb 2012. Hartzell, Richard. Cracking the English Language and Composition Exam. 2010. New York: Random House Inc, 2010. 130. Print.