ヒッチェンズの剃刀

ヒッチェンズの剃刀は特定の知識の主張を拒否するための一般規則として機能する認識論的な剃刀（英語版）である。それは「証拠なしの主張は証拠なしに棄却できる」と述べている^[1]^[2]^[3]。この剃刀は作家でジャーナリストのクリストファー・ヒッチェンズ (1949–2011)によって作成され、後にその名にちなんで名付けられた。これは主張の真実性に関する証明責任はその主張をする側にあることを意味する。もしこの責任が果たされないのであれば、その主張は根拠がなく、反対派はそれを退けるためにそれ以上議論する必要はない。ヒッチェンズはこのフレーズを、特に宗教的信念に対する反論という文脈で用いた^[3]。

脚注[編集]

[脚注の使い方]

^ Ratcliffe, Susan, ed (2016). Oxford Essential Quotations: Facts (4 ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780191826719 2020年11月4日閲覧. "What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."
^ McGrattan, Cillian (2016). The Politics of Trauma and Peace-Building: Lessons from Northern Ireland. Abingdon: Routledge. p. 2. ISBN 978-1138775183
^ ^a ^b Hitchens, Christopher (6 April 2009). God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (Kindle ed.). Twelve Books. p. 258. ASIN B00287KD4Q. "And remember, miracles are supposed to occur at the behest of a being who is omnipotent as well as omniscient and omnipresent. One might hope for more magnificent performances than ever seem to occur. The “evidence” for faith, then, seems to leave faith looking even weaker than it would if it stood, alone and unsupported, all by itself. What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. This is even more true when the “evidence” eventually offered is so shoddy and self-interested."

[1] Ratcliffe, Susan, ed (2016). Oxford Essential Quotations: Facts (4 ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780191826719 2020年11月4日閲覧. "What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."

[2] McGrattan, Cillian (2016). The Politics of Trauma and Peace-Building: Lessons from Northern Ireland. Abingdon: Routledge. p. 2. ISBN 978-1138775183

[Kin-3] Hitchens, Christopher (6 April 2009). God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (Kindle ed.). Twelve Books. p. 258. ASIN B00287KD4Q. "And remember, miracles are supposed to occur at the behest of a being who is omnipotent as well as omniscient and omnipresent. One might hope for more magnificent performances than ever seem to occur. The “evidence” for faith, then, seems to leave faith looking even weaker than it would if it stood, alone and unsupported, all by itself. What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. This is even more true when the “evidence” eventually offered is so shoddy and self-interested."

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