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In everyday arguments—whether in essays, debates, or advertisements—people often try to persuade us by making appeals. These appeals can be powerful tools of reasoning, but they can also be misleading if used incorrectly.
Let’s explore the most common types of appeals and how to tell when they strengthen an argument—or weaken it.
Appeal to Authority - This is when someone supports their argument by referring to an expert or someone with relevant knowledge.
✅ Valid Use: Referring to a recognized expert in the relevant field.
“According to Dr. Lee, a climate scientist, global temperatures are rising.”
❌ Flawed Use: Referring to a celebrity or someone outside their area of expertise.
“A famous actor says this diet works, so it must be true.”
Even when the authority is relevant, remember: experts can disagree, and even a consensus should be open to questioning.
✅ Valid Use: A teacher or examiner has the right to judge the quality of your essay—even if your friends think it’s great.
2. Appeal to Popularity - This is when something is claimed to be true or good just because many people believe it or do it.
✅ Reasonable Use: Popularity can be relevant in some contexts, like marketing or elections.
“Most people read the astrology column, so we should include one in our paper.”
❌ Flawed Use: Assuming something is true just because it’s popular.
“Astrology must be true—everyone reads it!”
3. Appeal to History -This is when past experiences are used to predict or justify future actions.
✅ Valid Use: Learning from past mistakes or patterns.
“Last time I walked across that frozen lake, I fell in. I’m not doing that again.”
❌ Flawed Use: Assuming the past always predicts the future, or using outdated history to justify current decisions.
“Prisons were originally just holding cells before execution, so we shouldn’t use them now.”
4. Appeal to Tradition - This is when something is defended just because it’s always been done that way.
✅ Reasonable Use: Tradition can be practical and efficient.
“We’ve always used this method, and it works well.”
❌ Flawed Use: Using tradition as an excuse to avoid change or improvement.
“We’ve always done it this way, so we shouldn’t change it—ever.”
5. Appeal to Novelty - This is the opposite of tradition—assuming something is better just because it’s new.
❌ Flawed Use: New doesn’t always mean improved.
“This is the new version of the product, so it must be better.”
6. Appeal to Emotion - This is when arguments try to persuade by triggering feelings like fear, pity, guilt, or pride.
✅ Valid Use: Emotion can be appropriate if it supports a logical point.
“Imagine how hard it is for families who can’t afford healthcare.”
❌ Flawed Use: Emotion is used to manipulate rather than reason.
“If you don’t support this policy, you must not care about children.”
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