What Is the Argument from Silence?

The argument from silence (argumentum ex silentio) is a form of reasoning based on the meaningful absence of an expected element in the available sources. Absence alone is not evidence; it gains probative value only when it is sudden, complete, and systematic, and when it conflicts with prior practice or the internal logic of the phenomenon under study. In such cases, silence is not neutral but becomes data that require explanation. In Evidence-Based Biblical Studies (EBBS), the argument from silence is treated as evidence of absence as a data point, which does not settle the issue by itself but may justify hypotheses concerning textual transmission, editorial intervention, or changes in the conditions under which the text was preserved.

Klaus Nielsen | pexels.com