Argument from ignorance facts for kids

An argument from ignorance (also called an appeal to ignorance) is a type of fallacy. A fallacy is a mistake in thinking or a bad way of making an argument.

This argument says something must be true because no one has proven it false. Or, it says something must be false because no one has proven it true. Think of it like saying, "Ghosts are real because no one has proven they aren't!"

This way of thinking is also known as a negative proof fallacy. It often wrongly assumes there are only two choices: true or false. But sometimes, things can be:

• true
• false
• unknown (we don't have enough information yet)
• unknowable (we can't ever know for sure)

When someone uses an argument from ignorance, they often try to make the other person prove them wrong. But in logic, the person making a claim is the one who needs to prove it. This is called the burden of proof.

A logical fallacy is simply a weak argument. Just because an argument uses bad logic doesn't mean its conclusion is definitely wrong. It just means the conclusion was reached in a faulty way. However, these kinds of arguments can still convince some people. That's why you might hear them used in politics or advertising.

What is an Argument from Ignorance?

An argument from ignorance happens when someone uses a lack of evidence to support their claim. They say, "Since there's no proof against my idea, my idea must be right!" This is a common mistake in thinking.

Why is it a Fallacy?

It's a fallacy because a lack of proof isn't the same as proof. Not knowing something doesn't make a claim true or false. For example, if you haven't seen your friend, it doesn't mean they've disappeared. It just means you haven't seen them.

Examples of This Argument

Here are some simple examples to help you understand this type of argument:

• "This new medicine is safe because no one has found any bad side effects yet."

* This argument is flawed. It doesn't mean the medicine has been fully tested. It just means no one has reported problems yet. There might not have been enough tests done.

• "Of course, diseases are caused by magic spells. How else could people get sick?"

* This is an argument from ignorance. It suggests that because we don't know another reason, the one offered (magic spells) must be correct. But there are many other reasons for sickness, even if we don't know them all at the moment.

Images for kids

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  John Locke was a famous philosopher who studied how we think.

See also

In Spanish: Argumento ad ignorantiam para niños