Claiming that something must be true because there’s no evidence to say otherwise is a logical fallacy called Appeal to Ignorance. Another version of this fallacy is the Argument from Incredulity, which suggests something must be false because it’s hard to imagine being true. Here’s how to recognize—and avoid using—both fallacies in creation-evolution contexts.
Textbooks often call antibiotic-resistant bacteria prime “evidence for evolution.” Based on a real textbook example, let’s use Critical Thinking Checks #1-5 to look at what’s really going on in the observational science of bacteria resistance. There’s a lot more to the story than what many textbo...
Textbooks often call antibiotic-resistant bacteria prime “evidence for evolution.” Based on a real textbook example, let’s use Critical Thinking Check #6 to look at what’s really going on in the observational science of bacteria resistance. There’s a lot more to the story than what many textbooks...
Circular reasoning is when an argument assumes what it’s trying to prove. Though often considered fallacies, circular arguments aren’t always illogical; they’re usually just too arbitrary to be persuasive. Yet some circular reasoning is necessary for logical thinking. Here’s how to detect—and avo...
