Argument From Ignorance
Argument From Ignorance
classification : informal – fallacies of distraction
An error of presumption in which one ignores all other reasonable alternatives.
A logical fallacy of irrelevance occurring when one claims that something is true only because it hasn’t been proved false, or vice versa.
Foundations
A claims truth or falsity depends upon supporting or refuting evidence to the claim in favor of an alternative view. Not knowing that a statement is true is taken to be proof that it is false.
Examples
Jim said he is smarter than David but failed to prove it. Therefore his argument ( assertion ) is logically flawed. Claiming something does not make it true.
Failing to prove that Unicorns do not exist, affirms that they do exist
If such actions were not illegal, then they would not be prohibited by the law.
Other Names:
lack-of-knowledge inference
negative evidence
default reasoning