Burden of Proof Inflation

The tactic of inflating the burden of proof beyond reasonable standards, demanding impossible levels of evidence while offering none in return. Burden of proof inflation is what happens when one side demands "proof" that would satisfy a mathematician while offering "evidence" that wouldn't satisfy a toddler. It's the logic of "prove vaccines are safe" (impossible standard) while accepting "I read on Facebook that they're dangerous" (no standard at all). Burden of proof inflation is a favorite of bad-faith arguers, who can always demand more, always raise the bar, always find the evidence insufficient. The cure is recognizing that burden of proof is not infinite; reasonable standards exist, and they apply to both sides.

Burden of Proof Inflation Example: "She provided study after study showing vaccine safety. He dismissed each one—too small, too old, too biased, too something. Burden of proof inflation had raised the bar beyond any possible reach. When she asked what evidence he would accept, he said 'I'll know it when I see it.' He never saw it."

Burden of Proof Inflation by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 17, 2026