By: Kennedy Logsdon

Definition of Appeal to Ignorance Appeal to Ignorance is the assumption of a conclusion or fact based primarily on lack of ridicule on the contrary. The fallacy asserts that the information is true because it is not yet proven wrong. It also shifts the burden of proof away from the one making the claim because the statement has no evidence.

Picture that Explains the Fallacy This picture displays appeal to ignorance because it shows how one can have two or more premises and still have a conclusion on the subject since it has not been proven wrong.

Example of Appeal to Ignorance Both of these examples show how the people are assuming and coming to a conclusion about their situation based on no evidence. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar <http ://jw online.org/view topic.php ?f = 1 2&t=948 One example would be someone saying, Since you haven’t proven your innocence, I must assume you’re guilty. Another is I must have not got the job, they never called me back.

Example from The Crucible The first example is in Act III Page 214. It states in Danforth’s voice to Giles, “Mr. Putnam states your charge is a lie. What do you say to that? What proof do you submit for your charge, sir? Giles. “My proof is here!” Danforth. “But proof, sir, proof.” This example is appeal to ignorance and Danforth is committing the fallacy. Danforth is making an assumption that Giles is lying. Because Giles cannot prove he is wrong, Danforth states Mr. Putnam’s words must be correct.

Example from The Crucible In Act III page 211 Danforth states, “ I judge nothing. I tell you straight, Mister- I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes my spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children are deceiving me. Do you understand me my meaning?” The fallacy committed is appeal to ignorance. Danforth is stating that he still thinks the girls committed the crime, even though he doesn’t have evidence. By Danforth coming to a conclusion and opinion before he hears all sides of the story and finding actual proof in the beginning of this scene, he is committing appeal to ignorance because he is saying that he must be true because you cannot prove him wrong.

Works Cited “Fallacy.” N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar “Fallacy.” N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar < argument-from-ignorance N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar appeal-to-ignorance/g-6m2bt91q7jqiqde7l8d63a0 N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar appeal-to-ignorance/g-6m2bt91q7jqiqde7l8d63a0 N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar < Thinking/Informal_Fallacies/Appeal_to_Ignorance/appeal_to_ignorance.ht ml N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar <http ://jw online.org/view topic.php ?f = 1 2&t=948 N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar <http ://jw online.org/view topic.php ?f = 1 2&t=948