Appeal to Ignorance and Misplaced Burden of Proof

Appeal to Ignorance and Misplaced Burden of Proof	Close Window

Appeal to Ignorance: Arguing that something is true because there is no evidence available that it is not true.

Misplaced Burden of Proof: Almost the same thing. In fact many textbooks make no distinction between appeal to ignorance and misplaced burden of proof. It works this way; One makes some assertion and then says, "You prove that I'm wrong." This shifts the burden from the sender to the receiver.

Explanation:

Arguments of this form assume that since something has not been proven false, it is therefore true. Conversely, such an argument may assume that since something has not been proven true, it is therefore false. (This is a special case of a false dilemma since it assumes that all propositions must either be known to be true or known to be false.) As Davis writes, "Lack of proof is not proof." (p.59)

A fundamental principle of logic is that when one makes an assertion it is their sole responsibility to prove that the assertion is true. Whoever is hearing the proposition has no logical burden whatsoever.

Examples:

(i) Since you cannot prove that ghosts do not exist, they must exist.

(ii) Since scientists cannot prove that global warming will occur, it probably won't.

(iii) Fred said that he is smarter than Jill, but he didn't prove it, so it must be false.

(iv) Abortion should remain legal because nobody knows when the fetus becomes a living human being.

Proof:

Identify the proposition in question. Argue that it may be true even though we don't know whether it is or isn't.

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