Argumentum e silentio

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As Argumentum e silentio ( Latin ), a conclusion from the silence is referred to in logic and in historical studies . The unreality of a fact or an event is inferred from the fact that it is not mentioned in a context in which its mentioning would otherwise be safely expected. Conclusions of this kind are never mandatory, but can, together with other evidence, reinforce the plausibility of a thesis. Since their weight depends on the interpretation of the context, they are also particularly suitable for constructs and conspiracy theories . Often the argumentum e silentio is also used as a sham argument.

Examples

  • Josephus , Jewish-Hellenistic historian and chronicler of the crimes of Herod , is silent about the child murder in Bethlehem , so it did not take place, otherwise Josephus would be a reliable historian in the transmission of negative news about Herod.
  • The Greek and Roman historians, who mainly reported on the life and work of Alexander ( Arrian , Diodor , Plutarch and Curtius ), passed over the brief period that, according to Josephus, Alexander is supposed to have spent in Palestine in almost invariable silence, so the event did not take place took place, because despite the minor importance that the Jewish people of that time had for the Greeks , a mention can be expected.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Johannes Hanselmann, Samuel Rothenberg, Uwe Swarat (eds.): Specialized dictionary theology . R. Brockhaus Verlag, Wuppertal 1987, ISBN 3-417-24083-2 , p. 20 : "argumentum e silentio (Latin) evidence" from silence ", from not being mentioned."
  2. ↑ Albert Bock: Frequent false arguments. (pdf) 2011, accessed on August 2, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Monika Konigorski: Herod - rehabilitation of a hated ruler. In: day after day. Deutschlandfunk , December 26, 2014, accessed on August 2, 2019 . Thomas Schumacher, New Testament scholar at the University of Friborg in Switzerland, is quoted as follows: “In the biblical discussion there is a certain tendency to evaluate this historicity of child murder rather critically. One of the main reasons is that Flavius ​​Josephus, especially in his work 'Jewish Antiquities', tried very hard to pass on all of Herod's atrocities. And of all things he does not report anything about child murder. "
  4. ↑ Flavius ​​Josephus : How Alexander entered Jerusalem, and what benefits he did to the Jews. In: Jewish antiquities . Dr. Heinrich Clementz, pp. 11.8.1-11.8.7 / 11.304-11.347 , accessed on August 2, 2019 .
  5. ↑ Ory Amitay: Samaritans past and present: current studies . Ed .: Menachem Mor, Friedrich V. Reiterer. De Gruyter , Berlin / New York 2007, ISBN 978-3-11-019497-5 , The Use and Abuse of the Argumentum e silentio - the Case of Alexander in Jerusalem, p. 59-60 (English).