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For example: "Nobody has ever seen God, so clearly he doesn't exist".

For example: "Nobody has ever seen God, so clearly he doesn't exist".

This fallacy is often associated with and best remembered by the phrase: "the absence of evidence does not constitute evidence of absence."  However, sometimes, absence of evidence can be so overwhelming that it constitutes strong evidence of absence.  Such a situation arises when we have good reason to believe that the absent evidence would have been uncovered by now if it existed.  For example, since evidence of the existence of the [[Loch Ness Monster]] would surely have come to light by now, but has not done so, it is reasonable to assume that the Loch Ness Monster does not exist.  In such cases, absence of evidence, while perhaps not conclusive, is strong evidence of absence.

This fallacy is often associated with and best remembered by the phrase: "the absence of evidence does not constitute evidence of absence."  However, sometimes, absence of evidence can be so overwhelming that it constitutes strong evidence of absence.  Such a situation arises when we have good reason to believe that the absent evidence would have been uncovered by now if it existed.  For example, since evidence of the existence of the [[Loch Ness Monster]] would surely have come to light by now, but has not done so, it is reasonable to assume that the Loch Ness Monster does not exist, i.e., that the [[null hypothesis]] is true.  In such cases, absence of evidence, while perhaps not conclusive, is strong evidence of absence.

A particular form of the argument from silence is the ''argument from personal incredulity,'' which takes the form "I cannot believe/understand/explain ''P;'' therefore, not-''P.''"  For example, someone who does not understand why [[God]] would condemn [[homosexuality]] or condemn sinners to eternal [[hell]] may commit this fallacy and conclude that the relevant Bible passages should be [[Cafeteria Christianity|rejected]].  Another particular form is the [[black-swan fallacy]].

A particular form of the argument from silence is the ''argument from personal incredulity,'' which takes the form "I cannot believe/understand/explain ''P;'' therefore, not-''P.''"  For example, someone who does not understand why [[God]] would condemn [[homosexuality]] or condemn sinners to eternal [[hell]] may commit this fallacy and conclude that the relevant Bible passages should be [[Cafeteria Christianity|rejected]].  Another particular form is the [[black-swan fallacy]].