FALLACY
APPEAL TO IGNORANCE
Short
definition
No evidence is given, so we can believe otherwise
Long
Definition
Since we can't prove something is true then we are
entitled to believe it is false; or vice-versa
form
It’s not proven, thus it is false
Universal Example
Example from the crucible
• Act III page 77
• Martha Corey's voice: “I am
innocent to a witch I know not
what a witch is.”
• Hathorne: “How do you know,
then, that you are not a witch.”
Explanation
• Explanation: Martha Corey is
someone who doesn’t know
what a witch is, she has no
evidence to support that she is
not a witch. Therefore,
Hathorne says she might be a
witch.
Example 2 from the crucible
• Act III page 103
• Danforth: “You deny every scrap and
title of this?”
• Abigail: “If I must answer that, sir, I
will leave and I will not come back
again.”
• Hale: “She does not deny it,
Mr.Danforth, she does not deny it!”
Explanation
• Hale is implying that by not
denying her innocence Abigail
is guilty. Since, there is no
evidence that she is innocent,
she is guilty.
Example 3 From the Crucible
• Act IV pages 131-132
• Proctor: “No-no I have signed it. You have
seen me. It is done! You have no need for
this.”
• Parris: “Proctor, the village! Must have
proof that…”
• Proctor: “Damn the village! I confess to
god and god has seen my name on this! It
is enough!”
Explanation
• Parris is stating the fact that, without
evidence to show the citizens of
Salem, the story Proctor has stated
is completely invalid. If there is no
evidence in favor of his statements,
his statements were never spoken in
the eyes of the court.
Sources
• Rubin, Steve. "fallacies from chapter 4."
Santa Rosa junior college. distance
education office, 30 January 2013. Web.
21 Feb 2013.
• Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. London:
Penguin Classics, 2003