baselessness
Baselessness refers to the condition of a claim, belief, or argument that lacks sufficient justification, evidence, or grounding in credible sources. It is not a label of truth or falsity by itself, but an assessment based on current standards of reason and knowledge. A claim may be considered baseless if it relies on vague assertions, anecdotes, appeals to authority without corroboration, or unfounded extrapolations beyond available data. Baselessness is context-sensitive: requirements for justification vary by discipline, but in most domains claims should be supported by relevant evidence, transparent reasoning, and reproducible or verifiable sources.
Factors that contribute to baselessness include cognitive biases, misinformation, selective reporting, and deliberate manipulation. Social dynamics,
The consequences of baselessness can be practical and ethical: it may mislead others, erode trust, distort policy
Approaches to avoid baselessness include demanding explicit evidence, citations to credible sources, clear definitions, falsifiability where