Kenzie GarrettAmber Jewell

Definition: A proposition is true on the basis that it has not been proved false. Or that it is false on the basis that it has not been proven true.

In other words… Someone either believes in something because it hasn’t been proven false. Or they don’t believe in it because it hasn’t been proven true.

Since people cannot prove ghosts are real, they do not exist.

Or…Since people cannot prove that ghosts

aren’t real, then they exist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-JUo50o5E0

1. Type: Appeal to Ignorance2. Characters: Proctor3. Quote: “Is it the Devil’s fault that a man cannot

say you good morning without you clap him for defamation?”

Act One, Page 1814. Argument Explanation: Proctor is suggesting

that the reason for everything that has been going on is the Devil’s fault because there is no other reasoning.

1. Type: Appeal to Ignorance2. Characters: Proctor3. Quote: “There might also be a dragon with five

legs in my house, but no one has ever seen it.” Act 3, Page 2174. Argument Explanation: In this quote Proctor

is making a statement that even though no one has ever “seen” a dragon in his house doesn’t mean it isn’t there. He is referring to his wife’s poppet's that just because they found one doesn’t mean she has more.

1. Type: Appeal to Ignorance2. Characters: Giles3. Quote: “Now he goes to the court and claims that

from that day to this he cannot keep a pig alive for more than four weeks because my Martha bewitch them with her books!”

Act 2, Page 2011. Argument Explanation: Giles is angry because

his wife is being accused of “bewitching” someone’s pigs. Since no one has proved that she didn’t bewitch them they cannot say she is innocent.

“Appeal to Ignorance.” philosophy.lander.edu. p.l.e, 12 Feb.

2003. Web. 16 Feb. 2012.

Bluedorn, Nathaniel. “Newspaper Logic: Akron Beacon Journal

Attack on Homeschooling.” Fallacy 3: Proof by Lack of

Evidence. Fallacy Detective. 01 Oct. 2004. Web. 16

Feb. 2012.

“Ignorant Ignorance” A Logical Fallacy. YouTube,16 Oct. 2011.

16 Feb. 2012