Is asking for too specific of proof a fallacy?
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Original Question
Is there a fallacy for insisting someone needs specific evidence instead of general?
For example-
A new tax is proposed that will tax everything classified as food. Evidence exists to make this abundantly clear.
Guy A: "The new tax is for all food. Bread is food. Bread will be more expensive."
Guy B: "Prove bread in particular is more expensive. You have provided no proof bread will be more expensive so you are wrong until you prove bread is more expensive."
I think this is a breakdown in simple logic but I wonder if there's a specific fallacy associated with this? Alternatively, is Guy A wrong and he simply cannot prove bread specifically is going to be more expensive?
For example-
A new tax is proposed that will tax everything classified as food. Evidence exists to make this abundantly clear.
Guy A: "The new tax is for all food. Bread is food. Bread will be more expensive."
Guy B: "Prove bread in particular is more expensive. You have provided no proof bread will be more expensive so you are wrong until you prove bread is more expensive."
I think this is a breakdown in simple logic but I wonder if there's a specific fallacy associated with this? Alternatively, is Guy A wrong and he simply cannot prove bread specifically is going to be more expensive?
Answers
3First of all you don't prove bread, you prove dough.
Ahem, anyway ... probably best not to interchange evidence and proof too much. Scientists tend to avoid the word proof, in law you use various evidence to make a conclusion of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, but in this case it's a matter of maths (or math depending on where you're from (but it is maths, it's plural)) and can be proven by using a formula.
Saying that one needs to provide proof that bread is more expensive to show that it will be more expensive is a non sequitur and an irrelevant conclusion. I suspect that you may have mistyped that but I make a point of clarity in arguments as what may appear insignificant can suddenly become the lynchpin of the argument once you've been lead into agreeing with something poorly worded.
And there's an argument from ignorance in saying that a lack of proof equals proof that you are wrong. It's only proof of a lack of proof and allows for no conclusion.
Ahem, anyway ... probably best not to interchange evidence and proof too much. Scientists tend to avoid the word proof, in law you use various evidence to make a conclusion of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, but in this case it's a matter of maths (or math depending on where you're from (but it is maths, it's plural)) and can be proven by using a formula.
Saying that one needs to provide proof that bread is more expensive to show that it will be more expensive is a non sequitur and an irrelevant conclusion. I suspect that you may have mistyped that but I make a point of clarity in arguments as what may appear insignificant can suddenly become the lynchpin of the argument once you've been lead into agreeing with something poorly worded.
And there's an argument from ignorance in saying that a lack of proof equals proof that you are wrong. It's only proof of a lack of proof and allows for no conclusion.
Hey Kiko, by definition having to pay more money than you previously had to pay for something makes it more expensive....
i.e. adding money (tax) to a food (bread) makes is more expensive.
Guy B is involved in a line of reasoning, well maybe, called invincible ignorance fallacy...
i.e. adding money (tax) to a food (bread) makes is more expensive.
Guy B is involved in a line of reasoning, well maybe, called invincible ignorance fallacy...
Seems like the rejection of a basic syllogism:
P1: All food will be taxed.
P2: Bread is a food.
C: Therefore, bread will be taxed.
To reject this is to reject logic.
P1: All food will be taxed.
P2: Bread is a food.
C: Therefore, bread will be taxed.
To reject this is to reject logic.
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