The Crucible logical
fallacy project
By: Kaleigh Gumm
Appeal to Ignorance
• Appeal to ignorance is when someone uses the
lack of someone's knowledge or information on a
subject as proof that their conclusion is accurate.
Universal Example
So why is this an example of
Appeal to ignorance?
The cartoon depicts a news
reporter pointing at the evidence that home
schooling is bad. Since there is no evidence
to counter act his claim that home schoolers
are hiding something his claim must be true.
So in other words he is using the lack of
evince as proof for his claim.
Another Universal example
What makes this an example of
appeal to ignorance?
The cartoon depicts two men
arguing over a point. One man
claims that its safer to drive
airplanes on the ground than
to fly them. While another says
that there is no proof that its
safer to drive airplanes on the
ground therefore, it much be
safer.
4
Example from The Crucible
• Mrs. Putnam: “… I have laid
seven babies baptized in the
Earth and now this year my
Ruth, my only… Send her to
your Tituba.”
Why is this an example of
appeal to ignorance?
Mrs. Putnam believes that
her children were
murdered by Rebecca
nurse her midwife to all of
them because there is no
evidence that indicates
that they ere not
murdered.
Another example from The Crucible
• John Proctor: “There might
also be a dragon with five
legs in my house, but no
one has ever seen it.”
Why is this an example of
Appeal to ignorance?
John proctor is making fun of
the ridiculous accusations
against Mrs. Proctor when she
was questioned about having
a poppet in her house. He is
saying that a five legged
dragon lives in his house. Since
no one has ever seen it then it
has to be true.
Another example from The crucible
• 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!”
(Act III page 103)
How is this an example?
Hale believe that Abigail is
guilty because she does not
deny her innocence. Since
there is no evidence that
proves that she Is innocent she
is guilty.
Citations/ sources
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. London: Penguin Classics, 2003
Hanks, Dr. Craig. "Appeal to Ignorance." Texas State University.
Department of Philosophy. Web. 14 march.2015.
Bluedorn, Nathaniel. "Newspaper Logic: Akron Beacon Journal
Attack on Homeschooling." Fallacy Detective. Mary Jo Tate.
Cartoon, 10 Oct. 2004. Web. 16 march.2015.
Bennett, Bo. “Argument from Ignorance”. Logically Fallacious.
Achieboy Holding, LLC, 2013. web. 13 march.2015.