Burden of proof (rhetoric)

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Burden of proof means the reasons that have to be met before a proposition of fact, value, or policy can be evaluated.

[edit] Difference between “a burden of proof” vs “the burden of proof”

“A burden of proof” comes in when one makes an argument. “A burden of proof” is the evidence that needs to be given before we can take the argument to be true.

“The burden of proof” refers to the reasons that have to be met for one to change from the logically valid default position. It falls on the person proposing change from the logically valid default position, or anyone who is making a positive claim when there is an unknown logically valid default position.

[edit] See also

• Burden of proof (logical fallacy)
• Pseudoskepticism

[edit] Sources

• On the Burden of Proof James Cargile, Philosophy, Vol. 72, No. 279 (Jan., 1997), pp. 59-83 [1]

• The Burden of Proof and Its Role in Argumentation Ulrike Hahn and Mike Oaksford, Argumentation Published online: 31 May 2007 [2]