Dr.Mick

Hi everyone, this is my first post (although I have ben lurking for ages), I hope it's in the right forum! My question is regarding the burden of proof. The burden of proof rests with the party making the positive claim. This seems sensible to me but is there a more formal reason why this should be the case?

Cheers

Mick

Djugashvillain

Hi, Dr.Mick!

I assume that you are referring to the burden of proof concerning the existence of god; as such, I'm moving this from GRD over to EoG, where that sort of thing is of constant relevance and can be clarified.

Dr.Mick

Well, yes but also the burden of proof in everyday life - court cases etc. Is there a good reason for the burden being with the one who makes the claim other than me thinking it "makes sense".

Caine

What other reason could there be? All forms of logical argument are human constructs, and hence subject to human reasoning skills. Making sense is the prerequisite for pretty much everything we do, and all formalism that we have created boils down to "it makes sense". The words "people are full of shit" aren't printed on every atom, we just have to rely on the intrinsic bullshit-o-meter we have in our minds. "Good reason" and "makes sense" are the same thing and they apply subjectively to each individual person.

Steve Weiss

The alternative to the requirement of proving a truth claim is to accept all claims at face value and forego any standard of truth. When an unsubstantiated truth claim is made it has no cognitive standing and can be ignored as neither true nor false. These assertions fall into the category of the arbitrary. All concepts must ultimately be reducible to perceptual referents in reality or else they are floating abstractions. People may choose to talk about nothing specific, but they are just wasting time.

EarlOfLade

I can see that the moniker "Dr." is only for your nick and not real. if it had been, you would not have asked the question you did.

Summapaxist

The "burden of proof" rests on the shoulders of the one desiring results.

Do you have to be Solomon to realize that?

AtheosRiktØr489

No need to be hostile with the man.

Dr.Mick

It is real as it happens. Perhaps I'm not as articulate as some but I thought it a fair question.

Dr.Mick

No, not at all. I was wondering whythat's all.