Subtitles section Play video Print subtitles What is Appeal to Ignorance (Argumentum ad Ignorantiam)? The Appeal to Ignorance is a logical fallacy that occurs when a conclusion is drawn based on the absence of evidence, rather than the presence of evidence. This fallacy suggests that a claim is true because it has not been proven false or that a claim is false because it has not been proven true. It's problematic because the lack of evidence is not a valid indicator of truth. In many cases, evidence may be undiscovered or unobtainable, making such arguments baseless. Everyday Example: Imagine someone arguing that a certain celebrity must be a good person because no scandals or negative stories have been reported about them. This is an appeal to ignorance, as it assumes the individual's virtue based on the absence of negative evidence. It fails to consider that lack of public scandal does not inherently equate to proof of good character. Such an argument overlooks other possibilities, like effective public relations management or simply a lack of public scrutiny.
B1 ignorance appeal evidence fallacy good person celebrity A Celebrity must be a good person because there is no scandals! - Appeal to Ignorance fallacy 54 2 Jay posted on 2023/12/02 More Share Save Report Video vocabulary