Summary
In this week's conversation we will discuss about fallacy. Fallacy is referring to an error in reasoning or a flawed argument that leads to incorrect conclusions. One fallacy from this week's list that I will choose is burden of proof and according to the week list they define burden of proof as the burden of proof lies not with the person making the claim, but with someone else to disprove. In other words, the burden of proof occurs when one party in an argument tries to shift the responsibility of providing evidence onto the other party. So, this means that instead of supporting their own claims, they insist that it someone else's duty to provide the burden of proof. Also, something I'd like to say is that I choose the burden of proof because I felt a connection to it personally as someone who talks to their siblings most times only to end up as the party who receives the duty to provide the burden of proof for them and their own claims. Realizing this fallacy has helped me understand that it is a tactic that is used to avoid presenting valid evidence or reasoning for their position. An example of this fallacy burden of proof would be imagining you're in class having a discussion with your friend. We will call this friend Andy and call ourselves Manny so this discussion we are having is a debate about the possibility of alien life. Andy says that aliens exist and have visited Earth. I clearly who is suspicious of this statement is asking for evidence so he could support this claim. Instead of providing evidence Andy says, "Prove that aliens don't exist!" Andy clearly using the fallacy burden of proof by shifting his responsibility onto me to disprove his claim. In this case Andy should give evidence to support his claim rather than demanding me who doesn't approve of his claim. In this example, as you see Andy is avoiding the duty to provide evidence for his own claims that aliens exist. Anyways from this point you can already tell that without presenting any evidence Andy's argument remains unsupported.
One thought on “Manveer Saini – Burden of proof”
Hi, Manveer! It’s great that you’ve chosen to discuss the burden of proof fallacy, as it’s a common tactic used in debates and discussions. Your personal connection to the fallacy adds depth to your understanding of it, especially in the context of conversations with siblings. Your example of Andy shifting the burden of proof onto you in a debate about alien life effectively illustrates how this fallacy operates in real-life situations. By recognizing and understanding this fallacy, you’re better equipped to engage in discussions and debates, ensuring that each party takes responsibility for supporting their claims with valid evidence or reasoning. Keep up the insightful analysis!