&gt;&gt;the undue weight that non-scientists place on expert opinion<p>Speaking as a non-scientist, I can recognize an appeal to authority probably just as well as a scientist. But having recognized one, what do I do? I lack the training, knowledge, and time necessary to evaluate the research directly. I can choose to only trust studies that are peer reviewed, or in major journals, or backed by whatever relevant government body there might be, or that my friend who knows about this thinks are right. And maybe that&#x27;s a good idea, but it&#x27;s still just appealing to different kinds of authority.<p>Most of the time laypeople have no realistic alternative to expert opinion.