Which informal fallacy is committed in the following statement: “Famous actor Jimmy Pecker has said in an interview that astrology is a real science, therefore scientists now must acknowledge that astrology is actually a science”?

Correct option is A

The fallacy of Appeal to Inappropriate Authority occurs when someone cites an authority figure who is not an expert in the relevant field to support a claim. In this case, the argument relies on the opinion of Jimmy Pecker, a famous actor, to assert that astrology is a real science. However, being an actor does not make him an expert on scientific matters, and his opinion does not provide valid evidence for the claim.
Information Booster:
1. Definition of Appeal to Inappropriate Authority:
· This fallacy occurs when someone cites an authority figure outside their area of expertise as evidence for a claim.
2. Examples:
· "A famous singer said this diet works, so it must be effective."
· "An athlete endorses this medicine, so it must be the best treatment."
3. How to Avoid:
· Verify the expertise of the authority figure being cited.
· Base claims on evidence from credible sources in the relevant field.
Additional Knowledge:
1. (b) Red Herring:
· A red herring fallacy diverts attention from the main issue to an irrelevant topic. The given statement does not shift focus; it directly argues that astrology is science based on the actor’s opinion.
2. (c) Strawman:
· A strawman fallacy misrepresents an opposing argument to make it easier to refute. There is no misrepresentation of any opposing argument in this case.
3. (d) Appeal to Ignorance:
· This fallacy asserts that something is true because it has not been proven false (or vice versa). The statement does not argue based on the absence of evidence.