What is an argument from ignorance?
Q: What is an argument from ignorance?
A: An argument from ignorance, also known as an appeal to ignorance, is a fallacy in informal logic. It suggests that something is true or false because it has not yet been proved otherwise.
Q: How many options are there when considering the truth of a statement?
A: There can be up to four options when considering the truth of a statement - true, false, unknown, and unknowable.
Q: Who has the burden of proof when making a claim?
A: Rules of logic place the burden of proof on the person making the claim.
Q: Is using bad logic always indicative of a false argument?
A: No, using bad logic does not necessarily mean that an argument is false (or true). It simply means that it is arrived at incorrectly.
Q: Why are arguments from ignorance used in politics and advertising?
A: Arguments from ignorance are used in politics and advertising because they can be convincing to some audiences despite being logically flawed.
Q: What other name is given to an appeal to ignorance?
A: An appeal to ignorance is also called a negative proof fallacy.
