Appeal to Ignorance By: Amber Cline

Definition Appeal t o I gnorance- An appeal to ignorance is an argument for or against a proposition on the basis of a lack of evidence against or for it. If there is positive evidence for the conclusion, then of course we have other reasons for accepting it, but a lack of evidence by itself is no evidence. Curtis, Gary. "Appeal to Ignorance." FallacyFiles.org. The Fallacy Files, n.d. Web. 21 Feb 2013. <http://www.fallacyfiles.org/ignorant.html>.

Picture Analogy

Crucible Example One: “Why, it’s sure she did. Mr. Collins saw her going over Ingersoll’s barn, and come down light as a bird, he says.” (Pg. 172, Act 1) This is ignorance because no one has any proof this didn’t happen, so they accepted it as really happening.

Crucible Example Two: “Mary- you charge a cold and cruel murder on Abigail.” (Pg. 203, Act 2) The scene this quote was from, Mary Warren just admitted the poppet was hers and she had made it that day. They know she made it, but they are too ignorant to believe it, with the admittance they accused her of accusing Abigail of lying. They are ignorant of the fact that even though she made it, they still believe Abigail.

Universal Example: There was a good example of this fallacy during the “Red Scare” that occurred in America in 50’s. Senator McCarthy: "I do not have much information on this except the general statement of the agency that there is nothing in the files to disprove your communist connection". This shows the ignorance that was portrayed during the “Red Scare” because it shows that there was no real evidence that anyone accused was actually apart of communist activities. McCarthy is saying that the only thing supporting his claim is the fact that there is nothing to disprove it, therefore his assumption is true. Rubin, Steve. "Examples of Appeal to Ignorance." online.santarosa.edu. Santa Rosa Junior College, 30 Jan 2013. Web. 21 Feb 2013. <http://online.santarosa.edu/presentation/page/?28611>.