Sunday, April 1, 2012

The Problem with eyewitness testimony

The argumentum ad Ignorantiam: (appeal to ignorance) the fallacy that a proposition is true simply on the basis that it has not been proved false or that it is false simply because it has not been proved true. This error in reasoning is often expressed with influential rhetoric. A. The informal structure has two basic patterns: Statement p is unproved. Statement not-p is unproved. Not-p is true. p is true. B. If one argues that God or telepathy, ghosts, or UFO's do not exist because their existence has not been proven beyond a shadow of doubt, then this fallacy occurs. C. On the other hand, if one argues that God, telepathy, and so on do exist because their non-existence has not been proved, then one argues fallaciously as well. ARGUMENT AD IGNORANTIUM Thought Experiment: 1. Which of the following is an example of argument ad ignorantium? a. Since many people claim to have seen ghosts, it is likely they exist b. Many members of the Society for the Paranormal believe in ghosts c. Ghosts must exist because no one has proved they do not. d. It is true for me that ghosts exist. 2. With a partner, make up 2 examples of argument ad ignorantium and share with the class.

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