Proving a Negative |
I know the myth of
"you
can't prove a negative" circulates throughout the nontheist community,
and it is good to dispel myths whenever we can. As it happens, there really
isn't such a thing as a "purely" negative statement, because every negative
entails a positive, and vice versa. Thus, "there are no crows in this box"
entails "this box contains something other than crows" (in the sense that
even "no things" is something, e.g. a vacuum). "Something" is here a set
restricted only by excluding crows, such that for every set S there is a
set Not-S, and vice versa, so every negative entails a positive and vice
versa. And to test the negative proposition one merely has to look in the
box: since crows being in the box (p) entails that we would see crows when
we look in the box (q), if we find q false, we know that p is false. Thus,
we have proved a negative. Of course, we could be mistaken about what we
saw, or about what a crow is, or things could have changed after we looked,
but within the limits of our knowing anything at all, and given a full
understanding of what a proposition means and thus entails, we can easily
prove a negative in such a case. This is not "proof" in the same sense as
a mathematical proof, which establishes that something is inherent in the
meaning of something else (and that therefore the conclusion is necessarily
true), but it is proof in the scientific sense and in the sense used in law
courts and in everyday life. So the example holds because when p entails
q, it means that q is included in the very meaning of p. Whenever you assert
p, you are also asserting q (and perhaps also r and s and t). In other words,
q is nothing more than an element of p. Thus, all else being as we expect,
"there are big green Martians in my bathtub" means if you look in your bathtub
you will see big green Martians, so not seeing them means the negative of
"there are big green Martians in my bathtub."Negative statements often make
claims that are hard to prove because they make predictions about things
we are in practice unable to observe in a finite time. For instance, "there
are no big green Martians" means "there are no big green Martians in this
or any universe," and unlike your bathtub, it is not possible to look in
every corner of every universe, thus we cannot completely test this
proposition--we can just look around within the limits of our ability and
our desire to expend time and resources on looking, and prove that, where
we have looked so far, and within the limits of our knowing anything at all,
there are no big green Martians. In such a case we have proved a negative,
just not the negative of the sweeping proposition in question.
The Method of the Best Bet
Unprovable Statements
The Unbelievability of Christian Theism |
Copyright 1999. Copying is freely permitted, provided credit
is given to the author, and no material herein may be sold for profit.
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/index.shtml
Note how this Christian refuses to deal with the logic of the responses and chooses a best answer that says "Atheists do not have evidence" when clearly they do:
Juan Aye Resolved Question Show me another " Atheists:Do you have any credible, tangible, verifiable evidence God doesn't exist? Back at ya! Rikki Rikki Best Answer - Chosen by Asker The atheists don't have any evidence! If I get 3 more thumbs down, I'll just delete my question! haha Edited 2 hours ago Report Abuse
2 Rating: Good Answer 8 Rating: Bad Answer
Asker's Rating: 5 out of 5 Asker's Comment: Atheists are just showing their ignorance.
This question about "Atheists:Do you have " was originally asked on Yahoo! Answers United States Other Answers (1 - 30 of 31) Show:
M (atheist) M (atheist) Yes, the absence of evidence is in fact evidence of absence (not proof of course, but evidence until other evidence comes about). Until evidence otherwise is brought about, the burden of proof cannot fall on those not making the claim.
But as for God the Biblical one, heck the Bible is proof he doesn't exist since it not only contradicts reality, but the God in it contradicts himself. Edited 2 hours ago Report Abuse 4 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Ryan Ryan The bible -_-
And the problem of evil The problem of free will and omniscience The argument of abysmal design The argument of Bertrand Russel that points out how you theists are required to give evidence not atheists. Ultimate Boeing 747 gambit (love mr dawkins)
The omnipotence paradox ie. Can God create a rock bigger than he can possibly lift? The concept of a infinite regress The fact that morality cannot come from your God since we all as humans disagree with slavery even though the bible assumes slavery would forever be seen as morally correct. Agnostic Atheism Wager - RationalWiki
The fact that a omnipotent and omniscient being would not by any means need to make a world such as this and would not require worship among so many other things. The fact that there are over 5000 different Gods. Done. Conclusion = God doesn't exist. Although some form of deity may do. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 0 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Sarah Louise Sarah Louise Exactly the same amount of evidence that the world was not created by a giant carrot who commands us all never to eat vegetables - there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that it was. Now if I was claiming the carrot does exist and did create the world then the burden of proof would be on me. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 2 Rating: Good Answer 0 Rating: Bad Answer Member Member You have it *** about face - I do not need any proof of anything - the burden of proof is on those making the claim as it is in court - if you think God exists it is up to you to prove it.
The mistake you just made in logic is a common one for theists who have no training in logic. Your mistake and others are dealt with on my site (2nd link). You cannot prove a negative. Please take logic 101 before asking more questions. Source(s): http://www.godisimaginary.com http://templarseries.fortunecity.com/Yah http://templarseries.fortunecity.com/Yah Edited 2 hours ago 1 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Rebecca Rebecca Seriously I am getting tired of this question. The burden of proof is on the person making the positive claim. You can not prove a negative. If I claimed that there was an invisible miniature dinosaur living under my bed would you admit to his existance because you can not prove he doesn't exist? Or would you think the burden of proof is on me since I claim it's existance.... Yeah, thought so. The burden of proof is on you to claim God's existance since you claim it is so. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 1 Rating: Good Answer 0 Rating: Bad Answer lhvinny lhvinny A Top Contributor is someone who is knowledgeable in a particular category. Which god? Depending on which god you're talking about, yes, I can provide credible, tangible, verifiable evidence it does not exist as described. Others I cannot.
Until you clarify, I cannot complete an answer to your question. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 0 Rating: Good Answer 0 Rating: Bad Answer Hellbound Ty:Trollophobic Hellbound Ty:Trollophobic Christians:Do you have any credible, tangible, verifiable evidence Zeus/Mars/Aphrodite/Kratos don't exist? Source(s): 26-year old Deist 2 hours ago Report Abuse 3 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Logic / Reason / Evidence Logic / Reason / Evidence Do you have any credible, tangible, verifiable evidence pixies don't exist either? You can't prove a negative. If you can prove pixies don't exist. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 1 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Roger T Roger T For the umpteenth time, no I don't. You can't prove a negative. If that is what you need to prove that your God exists, then have at it. Don't you find it sad that that is all you really have? Source(s): atheist 2 hours ago Report Abuse 0 Rating: Good Answer 0 Rating: Bad Answer Teresa Villanueva Teresa Villanueva we know that "god" exists we just dont believe he should be worshiped over. we dont think we should pray to him because hes specialy Source(s): myself 1 hour ago Report Abuse 0 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Immune to Indoctrination Immune to Indoctrination Absence of evidence is evidence of absence. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 3 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Ricardo Ricardo I have credible, tangible, verifiable evidence that no fundie has yet to produce any evidence of a god. 1 hour ago Report Abuse 0 Rating: Good Answer 0 Rating: Bad Answer The Sky is Over? The Sky is Over? It can't happen Atheism=There is no proof of God,therefore he must not exist How can you disprove something that doesn't exist? 2 hours ago Report Abuse 4 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer World's Strongest Millionaire World's Strongest Millionaire Yes, but I will only provide it to you when you can provide me equally legitimate evidence that Shiva doesn't exist. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 3 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Barbara - Go Niners! Barbara - Go Niners! Person: Do you have any credible, tangible, verifiable evidence that God does exist? Back at ya! 2 hours ago Report Abuse 3 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Michael K Michael K Theist: Do you have any credible, tangible, verifiable evidence Odin doesn't exist? Though I smell Poe. Edited 2 hours ago Report Abuse 0 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Purportedly Magic Jew Purportedly Magic Jew A Top Contributor is someone who is knowledgeable in a particular category. The lack of verifiable evidence for a god is evidence verifiable to anyone. Edited 2 hours ago Report Abuse 4 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Curtis B Curtis B Genesis is wrong, and it's supposed to be the infallible word of an omnipotent, omniscient deity. Edited 2 hours ago Report Abuse 0 Rating: Good Answer 0 Rating: Bad Answer William William Holy Crap! Burden of proof! Burden of proof! 2 hours ago Report Abuse 4 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer manuel manuel No. Things that don't exist tend to not leave tangible evidence of their not existing. Source(s): But I smell a Poe. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 10 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Lisa Lisa Oh. My. Spaghetti Monster.
***shudders*** 2 hours ago Report Abuse 2 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Tao Man Tao Man No requirement, no evidence. More than enough for me. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 2 Rating: Good Answer 2 Rating: Bad Answer maulporphy maulporp... Pick up a newspaper, or watch some TV news. There's your proof.
"The horror! The horror!" Edited 2 hours ago Report Abuse 3 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Dr House Dr House The burden of proof is not on me. There is no way of knowing. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 8 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Death of Baal Death of Baal the burden of proof is on theists... but the only "burden" Christians know about is the white man's burden. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 2 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Desie<3 Desie<3 do you have tangible evidence that he does exsist ...and the bible doesnt count Edited 2 hours ago Report Abuse 5 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer The Lord of Misrule The Lord of Misrule Stacks of it. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 1 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Thomasina Thomasin... Don't need it love. 2 hours ago Report Abuse 1 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Cyber Bully Cyber Bully yes, one time i tryed praying then it didn't work.
that is all 2 hours ago Report Abuse 10 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer Gis Gis we don't make a claim so have no claim to defend, why is this so difficult for you to understand? 2 hours ago Report Abuse 2 Rating: Good Answer 1 Rating: Bad Answer
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