Hitchens' Razor
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence." - Christopher Hitchens.
Hitchens' Razor is an epistemological principle attributed to the late journalist and author Christopher Hitchens. The principle states: "What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."
This axiom places the burden of proof on the person making a claim rather than on the person who is sceptical of the claim. Essentially, if someone asserts a statement or argument without providing evidence to support it, the listener has no obligation to accept it and can dismiss it outright.
Hitchens' Razor is often invoked in debates involving claims that lack empirical evidence, such as those in religion, pseudoscience, or alternative medicine. It serves as a tool for critical thinking, emphasising the importance of evidence-based reasoning.