Playing the Indian Card

Showing posts with label extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Show all posts

Friday, June 14, 2024

Sagan's Standard

 


Atheists and materialists love to cite Sagan's standard: “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” I think the concept ultimately comes from David Hume.

It is simply an admission of confirmation bias. You resist anything that differs from your existing beliefs. For what else makes a claim “extraordinary”?

Or else it is an expression of the ad populum fallacy; if by “extraordinary” is meant an assertion not often made. Truth is not determined by vote.

It is the evidence itself that determines whether a claim is “extraordinary.” The same standard of evidence applies to all assertions.