Worldviews and Preconceptions

Please visit this discussion thread to see a discussion about who has the Burden of Proof and why: http://my.umbc.edu/discussions/476?page=1

Burden of Proof

The Burden of Proof is a reference to the generally accepted rule that when two people make contradictory claims, the claim that is less believable is the one that needs proof--the more believable one at the outset is deemed to be true by default unless the less believable claim at the outset is demonstrated to be logically convincing through the addition of premises and logic.

Why Me?

Of course, if you recall, ALL beliefs (claims) need rational support if they are to be logical and a person's worldview to be consistent. This does not change even if someone else has a harder argument to prove.

Also, who decides which claim is less believable? If the arguers' presuppositions are different due to them having different worldviews, then they might not agree to who should have the burden of proof. If this is the case, and there is no way to determine who has the burden of proof, it becomes incumbent upon anyone who truly wishes to convince their audience to continue on and demonstrate the logical proof for their claim.

This page may be updated later. For now, the link given above will give a thorough discourse on what the burden of proof is and when and how it applies...or not. :)

Part 1: http://my.umbc.edu/discussions/435
Part 5: http://my.umbc.edu/discussions/478
Part 6 Bonus: http://my.umbc.edu/discussions/487