Citing sources rhetorically when they lack dispositive effect constitutes an appeal to authority
Evidence
When the source of the law is not significant per se, the only effect of citation is rhetorical. In formal logic the device is known as argumentum ad verecundiam, playing upon the prestige of the source. — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 1045
Categorization
- DEFINE: Defines argumentum ad verecundiam in the specific context of legal citation practice.
- XREF: Connects to informal fallacies taught in logic, and to judicial concerns about prejudicial jury instructions. — connects to: Relying on isolated phrases ripped from context commits a fallacy — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 1232; Logical form and avoiding fallacies remain critical tools of persuasion — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 146; Appeals to inflammatory hypotheticals constitute the argumentum ad populum fallacy — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 1062 (+9 more)
- corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 1045
Library Connections
- Logical form and avoiding fallacies remain critical tools of persuasion
#complicates(0.60) — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 146 - Knowledge of logical canons enables the detection of misleading legal arguments
#complicates(0.50) — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 97
Broader Connections
- Relying on isolated phrases ripped from context commits a fallacy
#expands(0.60) — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 1232 - Appeals to inflammatory hypotheticals constitute the argumentum ad populum fallacy
#expands(0.55) — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 1062