Re:Foundations of probability theory
by copperx on Friday October 02, 2015 @02:48PM
(#10320458)
Are you advocating "proof by authority "?
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Re:Foundations of probability theory
by thaumasiotes on Friday October 02, 2015 @04:28PM
(#10321099)
Of course. Appeal to authority was never a fallacy; the fallacy is "appeal to false authority". "Terry Tao knows much more about math in general and this in particular than I do, so I'll trust what he says here" is completely valid.
A fields medal doesn't indicate general authority in mathematics, only authority with regards to what was necessary for getting the medal.
OK, but being a math professor does indicate general authority in mathematics.
Appeal to authority is a dumb logical fallacy in reality geniuses are better at everything and we should prioritize their opinions by some decent weight over everyone else. Obviously.