If citing textbooks is classed as “arguing from authority”, one should point out that such arguments are usually correct.
Do you mean in the context of arguments in textbooks? This seems like a very weak claim, given how frequently some areas change. Indeed, psychology is an area where what an intro level textbook would both claim to be true and would even discuss as relevant topics has changed drastically in the last 60 years. For example, in a modern psychology textbook the primary discussion of Freud will be to note that most of his claims fell into two broad categories:untestable or demonstrably false. Similarly, even experimentally derived claims about some things (such as how children learn) has changed a lot in the last few years as more clever experimental design has done a better job separating issues of planning and physical coordination from babies’ models of reality. Psychology seems to be a bad area to make this sort of argument.
Do you mean in the context of arguments in textbooks?
Yes.
This seems like a very weak claim, given how frequently some areas change.
It is weak, in that it makes no bold claims, and merely states what most would take for granted—that most of the things in textbooks are essentially correct.
Do you mean in the context of arguments in textbooks? This seems like a very weak claim, given how frequently some areas change. Indeed, psychology is an area where what an intro level textbook would both claim to be true and would even discuss as relevant topics has changed drastically in the last 60 years. For example, in a modern psychology textbook the primary discussion of Freud will be to note that most of his claims fell into two broad categories:untestable or demonstrably false. Similarly, even experimentally derived claims about some things (such as how children learn) has changed a lot in the last few years as more clever experimental design has done a better job separating issues of planning and physical coordination from babies’ models of reality. Psychology seems to be a bad area to make this sort of argument.
Yes.
It is weak, in that it makes no bold claims, and merely states what most would take for granted—that most of the things in textbooks are essentially correct.