Argumentum ad ignorantiam: Difference between revisions

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* [[Fine tuning argument]]
* [[Fine tuning argument]]
* [[Irreducible complexity]]
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{{quote|This a homage is rendered to the sacred seal [of obscurity], which the Almighty has set upon each of his works. <ref>George Redford, ''Holy Scripture Verified'' 1837</ref>}}


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 21:30, 29 September 2015

The argumentum ad ignorantiam (also known as the argument from ignorance or argument from (personal) incredulity) is a logical fallacy wherein the speaker claims that because a subject is not well understood, either by the speaker or by others, it cannot be true. The argument is a form of non sequitur.

Fallacy

Someone using the argument from ignorance will generally claim that either

  1. They don't know how an argument could be false, therefore it must be true.
  2. They don't know how an argument could be true, therefore it must be false.

They are arguing for a particular default position that they prefer. If there is scientific evidence against their default position, it will frequently be dismissed or ignored.

Examples

  • Since scientists cannot prove that global warming will occur, it probably won't. [1]

Use in apologetics

Main Article: God of the gaps

The argumentum ad ignorantiam is commonly used as a proof of the existence of God. A God of the gaps argument is one that argues that since some phenomenon is unexplained, it must be due to God. It is also a form of non sequitur, since the hand of God is posited without proof and often with complete disregard to other possible explanations.

It also features in many other popular apologetic arguments, including:

"This a homage is rendered to the sacred seal [of obscurity], which the Almighty has set upon each of his works. [2]"

See also

External links

References

  1. [1]
  2. George Redford, Holy Scripture Verified 1837