Evidence
Evidence is a fact or information that is used to support or prove an idea or claim.
In a court, evidence is presented in the form of testimony or documents that are used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
In science, evidence is used to support or falsify a hypothesis or theory.
Evidence does not speak for itself, but must be interpreted. For example, a judge or jury must decide whether a gun found at the scene of a crime (the evidence) supports the prosecutor's claim that the gun's owner was present, or whether the gun got there by other means.
Evidence must be able to distinguish between two competing claims. For example, similarity of living things (homology) does not necessarily support the theory of evolution over the creationary viewpoint because the same evidence is consistent with both ideas.
Contrary to atheists who try to separate faith and scientific evidence, faith itself is evidence as stated in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the foundation of our hopes, the evidence of the unseen."
Historical evidence
See also: Historiography
Fischer's 7 habits of sound historiography
Fischer's 7 rules for historians taken from Josh McDowell's book The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict:
(1) The burden of proof for a historical claim is always upon the one making the assertion.
(2) Historical evidence must be an answer to the question asked and not to any other question.
(3) "An historian must not merely provide good evidence, but the best evidence. And the best evidence, all other things being equal, is the evidence which is most nearly immediate to the event itself."
(4) Evidence must always be affirmative. Negative evidence is no evidence at all. In other words, Fischer is saying that an absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of absence.
(5) The meaning of any historical evidence is dependent upon the context from which it is obtained from.
(6) "An empirical statement must not be more precise than its evidence warrants."
(7) "All inferences from historical evidence are probabilistic."
Josh McDowell's Evidence that Demands a Verdict, page 674, 1999, Mark MCGarry, Texas Type and Book Works, Dallas, TX, ISBN 0-7852-4219-8)
Evidence and the law
See also: Evidence (law)
In law, evidence is data, information or objects that support a legal claim or fact in the context of a particular legal case. The legal rules relating to evidence vary by legal systems (Country, state/province, city, town, etc.).
Types of evidence in legal systems
Broadly speaking, below are the types of evidence in legal cases:
1. Direct evidence: Direct evidence is straightforward in nature (Eyewitness's testimony, physical object, a confession)
2. Circumstantial evidence (Indirect evidence): Suggests a fact, but it doesn't directly prove it (Eyewitness testimony that suspect was seen near the crime scene, etc.)
3. Physical evidence: Tangible that is relevant to a trial and can be used to help prove facts or link a defendant to a crime. It's commonly known as real evidence or material evidence (Weapons, fingerprints or DNA evidence)
4. Documentary evidence: Written or recorded materials (Contracts, emails, medical records, audio/video recordings, etc.)
5. Expert evidence: Expert testimony from a qualified and relevant expert, such as a medical expert
6. Corroborating evidence: Strengthens or confirms other evidence in a trial (Another eyewitness backs up a witness's testimony in a trial)
7. Testimonial evidence: Testimony from a witness under oath, such as when a witness testifies in court that they saw a crime or an affidavit.