Imagine this scenario.

Someone sets a locked box on a table and says, “This box is full of kittens.” There’s no sound coming from the box, and you call attention to this. Greg smiles and hands you a book which chronicles the kittens’ exploits. He assures you the book was written by firsthand witnesses of the kittens’ adventures.

“This is all well and good,” you say, “But this could’ve been written by anyone.”

“Look,” says Greg, “I know it doesn’t sound like there are kittens in there. It’s quiet and not very heavy. And as nobody has the key to open it there’s really no way to be sure. You’re just gonna have to trust me on this.”

“Why?”

“Because the book tells you to.”

“Wait, hang on. Aren’t you spotting the logical flaw in your suggestion?”

“Probably,” says Greg, resting a hand on your shoulder. “But I have faith anyway.”

Then Ahmed walks over and says that actually the box is full of puppies. He’s quickly followed by Jon who says that it’s a box full of copies of minutes from last week’s PTA meeting.