Not only is the common-law standard of proof of mere likelihood in ordinary civil cases justifiable, but its justifiability supports the conclusion that there is no general norm that one must assert that p only if p is known. An argument by Voltaire is formalized to show that the mere likelihood standard is rational. It is also shown that no applicable norm preempts the common-law rule. An objection that takes the pertinent knowledge-norm to be honoured in the breach is rejected by appeal to the absence of blameworthiness in alleged breaches of interest. An objection that takes civil verdicts to be manifestations of acceptance, rather than assertoric, is considered and rejected.

中文翻译：

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普通法坩埚中的知识规范

不仅在普通民事案件中证明纯粹可能性的普通法标准是合理的，而且它的合理性也支持这样的结论，即不存在只有当p已知时才必须断言p的一般规范。伏尔泰的一个论证被形式化以表明单纯的可能性标准是合理的。它还表明，没有适用的规范优先于普通法规则。反对在违反利益时尊重相关知识规范的反对意见被上诉驳回，理由是在涉嫌违反利益的情况下不存在可责备性。将民事裁决视为接受的表现而非断言的异议将被考虑并拒绝。