Which fallacy relies on the claim that something is true because it has not been proven false?

Which fallacy relies on the claim that something is true because it has not been proven false?

• A. Argumentum ad ignorantiam
• B. Ad hominem
• C. Red herring
• D. Ethos

Answer: (A)

This question tests recognizing an appeal to ignorance. That fallacy happens when someone says a claim is true simply because there’s no proof it’s false, or false because there’s no proof it’s true. The logic wrongly treats the absence of disproof as positive evidence. For example, claiming that a superstition must be real because no one has proven it false, or that a claim is false because no one has proven it true, relies on what isn’t known instead of on solid supporting evidence. In careful reasoning, absence of disproof isn’t evidence of truth; positive evidence is needed to establish a claim. Why the other ideas don’t fit: ad hominem attacks the person rather than addressing the argument, red herring shifts focus away from the issue, and ethos concerns the credibility of the speaker rather than whether a claim is supported by evidence.

This question tests recognizing an appeal to ignorance. That fallacy happens when someone says a claim is true simply because there’s no proof it’s false, or false because there’s no proof it’s true. The logic wrongly treats the absence of disproof as positive evidence. For example, claiming that a superstition must be real because no one has proven it false, or that a claim is false because no one has proven it true, relies on what isn’t known instead of on solid supporting evidence. In careful reasoning, absence of disproof isn’t evidence of truth; positive evidence is needed to establish a claim.

Why the other ideas don’t fit: ad hominem attacks the person rather than addressing the argument, red herring shifts focus away from the issue, and ethos concerns the credibility of the speaker rather than whether a claim is supported by evidence.