Propaganda: Gentle Reader Series #3 PhD? So What?

Gentle readers:

People who use Mr. Clowes’ article as evidence to support their anti-gay biases sometimes note that the author holds a PhD. Indeed, Mr. Clowes holds a PhD from a reputable US school in Civil Engineering. Some people, however, like to believe that because a PhD wrote the article, it's conclusions somehow have more weight.

Let me bring you in on a little secret. Persons with a PhD are not infallible - especially when they are commenting on science outside of their area of expertise. And even when PhDs are commenting within their field, they can make mistakes. That is why we give the highest credence to articles and studies that are peer reviewed.

Now I draw your attention to the following points:


1. Mr. Clowes' anti-gay claims involve social science and behavioural psychology.

2. Mr. Clowes is neither a social scientist nor a behavioral psychologist. In short, he is a civil engineer commenting outside his area of expertise.

3. While the article notes the fact that Clowes holds a PhD, nowhere does it disclose his area of expertise (you need to go to another website for that information).



It is a common trick among propagandists to misuse academic credentials in this way. Their intent is to lend a greater air of authority to what is nothing more than a very poorly reasoned opinion article.

If a PhD has written something, it means very little until we can understand if it is written in an area where the PhD has expertise. And even if it is within the PhD’s area of expertise, we should closely examine methodology, and logic etc…. Trust me, even when a PhD is not an active participant in creating propaganda, they are capable of error.

In any case, argument from authority is always an inherently weak argument - regardless of the authority.

Cheers...Martin