Burden of proof – November 1, 2025
The burden of proof is the obligation to support one’s assertions with adequate reasons or evidence; others are not obligated to refute unsupported claims.
APA: Copi, I. M., Cohen, C., & McMahon, K. (2016). Introduction to logic (14th ed.). Routledge.
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In both logic and law, it is not enough to make an accusation or assertion—you must provide evidence. The burden is on you to prove it.
APA: Cargile, J. (1997). On the burden of proof. Philosophy, 72(279), 59–83.
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Whoever claims something to be true must bring evidence; no one else has to disprove it until some proof is shown.
APA: Johnson, R. H., & Blair, J. A. (2006). Logical self-defense (2nd ed.). International Debate Education Association.
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Burden of proof means that the person making a claim is responsible for proving it, not the other way around.
APA: Walton, D. (2008). Informal logic: A pragmatic approach (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
