I always thought that it meant: just because someone has authority over one subject, doesn’t mean they have it for another.
That can be part of it, but the definitional aspect of the fallacy is attempting to irrationally utilize it to define logical proof.
As in it wouldn’t be rational to utilize Einstein as an expert to prove something in religion.
However, you could still have a logical fallacy if you tried to appeal to authority/expert in their own field if utilizing their testimony is itself irrational.
For example any attempt to use personal testimony as evidence in the scientific method is an appeal to authority. For example It doesn’t matter what Einstein’s testimony is about physics, as personal testimony doesn’t fit within the scientific process. Utilizing someone’s personal testimony isn’t going to counter an observable phenomenon, or help anyone reproduce an experiment.
On the flip side, expert witness testimony can be used to bolster the body of evidence when it comes to the metaphysical. For example, it’s perfectly rational for a person who studies Nazi to list their experience when interpreting if something is a Nazi salute. As the only way to determine a Nazi salute from another movement is knowing the contextual history of the Nazi movement.
That can be part of it, but the definitional aspect of the fallacy is attempting to irrationally utilize it to define logical proof.
As in it wouldn’t be rational to utilize Einstein as an expert to prove something in religion.
However, you could still have a logical fallacy if you tried to appeal to authority/expert in their own field if utilizing their testimony is itself irrational.
For example any attempt to use personal testimony as evidence in the scientific method is an appeal to authority. For example It doesn’t matter what Einstein’s testimony is about physics, as personal testimony doesn’t fit within the scientific process. Utilizing someone’s personal testimony isn’t going to counter an observable phenomenon, or help anyone reproduce an experiment.
On the flip side, expert witness testimony can be used to bolster the body of evidence when it comes to the metaphysical. For example, it’s perfectly rational for a person who studies Nazi to list their experience when interpreting if something is a Nazi salute. As the only way to determine a Nazi salute from another movement is knowing the contextual history of the Nazi movement.