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| They want the public to think all of these secret “sources” are honest and courageous whistleblowers who provide factual information. In logic, philosophy, debate and critical thinking this is called an "appeal to questionable authority." It is a misdirection of a valid "appeal to authority" where one is led to believe that the person being quoted is an expert on the subject, but in fact is not. No where in American society where real arguments really count is an appeal to questionable authority allowed. Not in academia, business, courtroom, debate teams or even around a dinner table, however, the media has very effectively convinced the vast majority of the American public to buy into these "unknown sources" that cannot be challenged or impeached. |