Refraction (Bent Thinking) #49

Burden of Proof (onus probandi): Requiring the hearer to disprove the speaker’s claim rather than requiring the speaker to support her/his claim. Refutation: The burden of proof to demonstrate the truth of a claim is on the person making the claim. It is not required that any other person disprove the claim.  Example –  Bob: Abby, I have stated that guns produce violence. If you do not prove me wrong, then my claim stands. Side Note: There is nothing wrong, in and of itself for Abby to attempt to prove Bob wrong, but whether she does or not, the onus is on Bob to defend and support his claim if he wants others to accept it.