Final answer:
Asserting that something can't happen because it hasn't happened to an individual is a logical fallacy. It often involves using personal anecdotal evidence as the sole basis for dismissing broader possibilities and incorrectly shifts the burden of proof.
Step-by-step explanation:
When someone asserts that something can't happen simply because it has not happened to them, they are engaging in a logical fallacy. This type of fallacy is often related to the concept of anecdotal evidence and confirmation bias, where individuals use personal experiences, or the lack thereof, as the sole basis for dismissing broader possibilities.
For example, a person might argue that they've never won the lottery despite buying tickets for twenty years and therefore, they conclude that winning is impossible. This ignores statistical probabilities and the experiences of those who have won. Similarly, arguing that a phenomenon like miracles must exist because one cannot prove they do not is a shifting of the burden of proof. The burden of proof lies on the person making the claim, rather than on others to disprove it. The absence of evidence for a claim doesn't automatically validate it.