Proof by assertion, sometimes informally referred to as proof by repeated assertion, is an

informal fallacy Informal fallacies are a type of incorrect argument in natural language. The source of the error is not just due to the ''form'' of the argument, as is the case for formal fallacies, but can also be due to their ''content'' and ''context''. Fall ...

in which a proposition is repeatedly restated regardless of contradiction and refutation.Austin J. Freeley, David L. Steinberg, ''Argumentation and Debate; Critical Thinking for Reasoned Decision Making'' (Wadsworth Cengage Learning, Boston, 2009), p. 196 The proposition can sometimes be repeated until any challenges or opposition cease, letting the proponent assert it as fact, and solely due to a lack of challengers ('' argumentum ad nauseam''). In other cases, its repetition may be cited as evidence of its truth, in a variant of the

appeal to authority An argument from authority (''argumentum ab auctoritate''), also called an appeal to authority, or argumentum ad verecundiam, is a form of argument in which the opinion of an authority on a topic is used as evidence to support an argument. Some con ...

or appeal to belief fallacies. This fallacy is sometimes used as a form of

rhetoric Rhetoric () is the art of persuasion, which along with grammar and logic (or dialectic), is one of the three ancient arts of discourse. Rhetoric aims to study the techniques writers or speakers utilize to inform, persuade, or motivate par ...

by politicians, or during a debate as a

filibuster A filibuster is a political procedure in which one or more members of a legislative body prolong debate on proposed legislation so as to delay or entirely prevent decision. It is sometimes referred to as "talking a bill to death" or "talking out ...

. In its extreme form, it can also be a form of

brainwashing Brainwashing (also known as mind control, menticide, coercive persuasion, thought control, thought reform, and forced re-education) is the concept that the human mind can be altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques. Brainwashin ...

. Modern politics contains many examples of proofs by assertion. This practice can be observed in the use of political

slogan A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a clan, political slogan, political, Advertising slogan, commercial, religious, and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose, with the goal of persuading members of the publi ...

s, and the distribution of "

talking point A talking point, often used in the plural, is a pre-established message or formula used in the field of political communication, sales and commercial or advertising communication. The message is coordinated ''a priori'' to remain more or less inv ...

s", which are collections of short phrases that are issued to members of modern political parties for recitation, and in order to achieve maximum message repetition. The technique is also sometimes used in advertising.Robert Ruxton, 'Selling by the Printed Word', ''The Printing Art'', Vol. xxxix (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1922), p. 60

References

Informal fallacies Relevance fallacies {{philo-stub es:Prueba por aseveración

See also

References