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Appeal to Ignorance
Category: Fallacy
What is it?
This fallacy shifts the burden of proof. Instead of providing evidence for their claim, the person argues that the lack of evidence against it is a reason to believe it's true.
Examples
"No one has ever proven that ghosts don't exist, so they must be real."
"There's no evidence that this new supplement is harmful, so it must be safe."
How to Avoid This
Base your beliefs on the presence of evidence, not the absence of it. The burden of proof is on the person making the claim.
How to Counter This
Point out that 'absence of evidence is not evidence of absence' (or presence). The person making the claim needs to provide positive evidence to support it.