Credentialism

If someone tells you he's right because of his formal education, dude, then that's a fallacy called appeal to authority, and if he tells you he is right just because of a consensus, that's an argumentum ad populum. Hubristic claims to rightness based on credentials alone are a genetic fallacy called argumentum ad auctoritatem, and in the case of credentials we are speaking of credentialism. Credentialism is not only cringe but is a factor in many dangerous situations. Many police officers who have committed violence have tried to justify it with their credentials as officers. It's like saying "I can beat people, you know because I am a graduate of the police academy and I am a police officer," no actually you can only use force in certain situations and it's limited force. Or, "I have a degree in geography, so I must be right about all to do with geography!".
Category:Fallacies