From NewsBiscuit
Argumentum Ad ignorantiam means the Argument from Ignorance. It basically states that a specific belief is true because we don’t know that it isn’t true. This logical fallacy can also be called the Negative Proof Argument, or Appeal to Ignorance.
This is Part 4 in a series I introduced the other day about Logical Fallacies, Misconceptions, False Beliefs. We’re going to go through one fallacy at a time. There are about 20 main fallacies altogether. I’m going to try to explain them with examples then find ways to help you refute those arguments when they occur.
James stated it quite perfectly in the comments of our last fallacy lesson:
Atheist: “You cannot prove that God exists.”
Theist: “Oh yeah? Well, you cannot prove that God DOESN’T exist!”
Of course this brings up the rule: The burden of proof lies on the person making the positive claim. Basically, if you state that god exists, the burden of proof lies on you.
Edit: I found this video today. Here is Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson explaining it:
Ohmygosh, I’m really sorry. I really wanted to get another logical fallacy up today. But it just isn’t going to happen tonight, I don’t think. Why? Oh, how kind of you to ask!
Well, it all started a few weeks ago. I was talking to Jill, a friend of mine, about diet and exercise. She linked me to LiveStrong.com, namely, The Daily Plate. It’s a site by Lance Armstrong. I don’t use all of it, but The Daily Plate is really cool.
I get to put in what I eat every day and what exercise I do and it tells me how many calories I’ve burned and how many more calories I can eat and still lose a bit of weight, maintain my weight, or even gain, if that’s my goal. I have my measurements in there and am tracking all kinds of neat little things that are incredibly motivating. It’s free, I don’t use the premium features, which are available, but the free parts are quite excellent on their own. Read the rest of this entry »
Ok, for some reason this struck me as a bit…. odd. Diesel from dead cats? I just had to share it with you, since we’re Heaving Dead Cats around here on a regular basis. Now we can save money, heave dead cats and make fuel! Woot!
Dr Christian Koch, 55, from Kleinhartmannsdorf, has a special method for turning household garbage into biodiesel. This leads me to believe you can make biodiesel out of just about anything.
So, his method involves heating stuff like old tires, paper, motor oil, plastic, dead cats, just about anything, to 300 degrees Celsius. Then the hydrocarbons go through a catalytic converter.
Now I’ll know what to do with all those dead cats in my freezer! (JUST KIDDING)
Tu quoque is Latin for “You too”. So you justify your wrong action because someone else also does it. “My evidence may be invalid, but so is yours.”
This is Part 3 in a series I introduced the other day about Logical Fallacies, Misconceptions, False Beliefs. We’re going to go through one fallacy at a time. There are about 20 main fallacies altogether. I’m going to try to explain them with examples then find ways to help you refute those arguments when they occur.
My mother did this on the phone the other day. We were talking about religion when my mother told me I should start a cult or my own religion, because they make so much money. (WTF?) Read the rest of this entry »
So I made a mistake today. I asked my mom who she was going to vote for. It wasn’t a fun conversation because she had crazy ideas that no amount of logic was going to budge. Then my dad joined in. He basically implied that I was an idiot for not seeing things his way (ad hominem example?!) and then gave the phone back to my mom.
He seemed really angry and upset with my choice, which is already done because I voted early. They are so angry and seem like they are listening to the oddest information. I wonder how long my dad will be mad at me?
So let’s have a bit of a break and see what lolcats can do to make us smile. Some random pictures for you. Read the rest of this entry »
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