The onus of proof is on the person making an existential claim: Difference between revisions

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A principal of sound argument that posits that one need not prove a negative. Because it’s impossible to prove a negative. It’s hard enough to prove a positive (the best you can do is point to an absence of contradictory evidence).  
{{a|plainenglish|[[File:Nasty.jpg|thumb|450px|center|A freeze-frame that will drive you insane.]]}}A principal of sound argument that posits that one need not prove a negative. Because it’s impossible to prove a negative. It’s hard enough to prove a positive (the best you can do is point to an absence of contradictory evidence).  


The principle is evidenced as well as anywhere by Mike and Vyvan from the Young Ones:
The principle is evidenced as well as anywhere by Mike and Vyvyan:


{{video nasty}}
{{video nasty}}
It flows into legal draftery, although you would not know it from the timidity with which many [[Mediocre lawyer|modern commercial lawyers]] festoon their contracts. ''You don’t need to say what you don’t have to do in a contract''. Not even [[for the avoidance of doubt]].
It flows into legal draftery, although you would not know it from the timidity with which many [[Mediocre lawyer|modern commercial lawyers]] festoon their contracts. ''You don’t need to say what you don’t have to do in a contract''. Not even [[for the avoidance of doubt]].


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*[[I never said it was]]
*[[I never said it was]]


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