Motbevisning

Motbevisning is a term used in Swedish and Norwegian to denote counter-evidence or refutation that challenges a claim or proposition. The word is formed from mot, meaning against, and bevisning, meaning evidence.

In logic and philosophy, motbevisning refers to evidence or arguments that demonstrate a statement to be false, often through a counterexample or a direct logical refutation. In science, counter-evidence can lead to revision or rejection of a theory, reflecting the principle of falsifiability.

In legal contexts, motbevisning designates evidence presented to oppose or weaken the allegations in a case. This can include witness testimony, documents, expert analyses, or other materials that undermine the opposing party’s narrative or support an alternative interpretation of the facts.

Forms of motbevisning vary from direct counter-evidence that outright contradicts a claim to refutations that challenge the reasoning, assumptions, or methodological foundations of an argument. The strength and relevance of motbevisning depend on the quality, relevance, and reliability of the presented information.

Motbevisning is central to objective inquiry and fair adjudication. It helps distinguish well-supported conclusions from those that may arise from incomplete data, bias, or flawed logic, and it plays a key role in debates, scientific progress, and legal proceedings.