Is it Wrong to Require Proof of a Contention?

Question

Often, Rumor and Prejudice is All that is Required.

Answer 1

No, but you can't reason with the truth and dependability of contentions not arrived at through reason. Beliefs, coincidence, here-say, anecdotes, as well as some inexperienced, careless, malevolent products of these: bigotry, rumour, and prejudice, do not even logically come close to "proof". But, nonetheless these are all too often treated as evidence. And, I might add, treated with respect, particularly if attached to the mouth of a title, a majority, power, or/and if accompanied by neglect to reexamine the validity and reliability of what is being told.

EDIT: Well, beliefs, anecdotes, and the rest are not even in the same league as even indirect, supportive hard evidence ;-). The latter IS evidence, the former, is, at best, superstition.

Answer 2

Further on what you said, it depends on the level of truth required for people to decide proof. So it's all a matter of what proof consists. Perhaps if people had a higher standard of proof the world would be a less irritating place.. who can say.

That would depend again on the degree to which proof is regarded as proof. Some people consider the bible to be hard evidence - notwithstanding that it's fairly clearly a conglomerate of writings that often conflict themselves. It's to say that anything can be held to be proof in the right circumstances - everything is very much relative depending on individual views, or the prevailing societal norms. The sun orbits the flat earth. Evolution is a good one. It depends which end of the existential telescope you look down - is mankind the be all and end all of creation, or something that was arrived at? We're so self centred...

In short, there is no meta-standard for proof, and unless we can draw everyone together under a moral dictatorship we'll never quite reach a concensus.

Answer 3

For what purpose?  In support of a criminal accusation, proof is required.  If you are asking if you are allowed to make decisions based on rumor, yes you are.