No scientist has ever seen an electron....

Abdul Quadeer

No scientist has ever seen an electron but yet believe in its existence. An intelligent but superstitious man advances this analogy to argue that ghosts exist even though no one has ever seen one. How will you refute his arguement?

Is the statement logical? Consider this - No one has ever seen God, yet they believe in its existence (except atheists).

What do you think?

arildno

Because the theory of the electron generates <i>testable</i> predictions, whereas the theories of ghosts&Gods are so vague that they do not, by the theory's own logical necessities generate any testable predictions at all.

Vanadium 50

No scientist has ever seen wind either.

ibysaiyan

I think since there are many versions of a God/Goddess and scriptures binding them which leads to people either having faith in a deity (theist) or not believing in one.

I find your post to be a bit mis leading in comparison as well as using the term "God" which I think has been used in a very general/vague manner.Scriptures happen to self contradict whereas scientific method doesn't (if it does then that hypothesis is invalid).Again for science it's a binary language : There exists something or doesn't - 0 or 1.There are things which science can't explain for now but to some people religion does.We call them miracles.
Perhaps if we are to look for an evidence of a "deity"/creator then we would be contradicting ourselves because if we are to assume that "XYZ proves god's existence" ,then it makes that version of a god "being a part of this observable universe" aka a creator being created out of a big bang.

On a personal note being a theist(Muslim) born and raised in the heart of Islam , I segregate religion and science.
=]

cragar

what does it mean to see something , Like to receive photons

Abdul Quadeer

Quote by cragar

what does it mean to see something , Like to receive photons

What else can it mean ?

Abdul Quadeer

Quote by ibysaiyan

I think since there are many versions of a God/Goddess and scriptures binding them which leads to people either having faith in a deity (theist) or not believing in one.

I find your post to be a bit mis leading in comparison as well as using the term "God" which I think has been used in a very general/vague manner.Scriptures happen to self contradict whereas scientific method doesn't (if it does then that hypothesis is invalid).Again for science it's a binary language : There exists something or doesn't - 0 or 1.There are things which science can't explain for now but to some people religion does.We call them miracles.
Perhaps if we are to look for an evidence of a "deity"/creator then we would be contradicting ourselves because if we are to assume that "XYZ proves god's existence" ,then it makes that version of a god "being a part of this observable universe" aka a creator being created out of a big bang.

On a personal note being a theist(Muslim) born and raised in the heart of Islam , I segregate religion and science.
=]

Its my mistake. I should not have included the question about God here.
Science cannot explain everything.

Abdul Quadeer

Quote by arildno

Because the theory of the electron generates <i>testable</i> predictions, whereas the theories of ghosts&Gods are so vague that they do not, by the theory's own logical necessities generate any testable predictions at all.

Is there any scientific theory which can prove the non-existence of Ghosts?
If science doesnot have any clear theory about something, how can we say that it doesnot exist?

cragar

Then in a sense we have seen electrons , because they emit photons all the time .

Abdul Quadeer

Photons come into play only after proving the existence of electrons. When you are uncertain about the latter (in the sense you have not seen it), no question about the former. I am not telling that electrons don't exist, mind you.

Vanadium 50

Ghosts? Gods and goddesses? Uncertainty about electrons?
This thread is not going anywhere good.

arildno Recognitions: Gold Member Homework Help Science Advisor	Because the theory of the electron generates <i>testable</i> predictions, whereas the theories of ghosts&Gods are so vague that they do not, by the theory's own logical necessities generate any testable predictions at all.

cragar	what does it mean to see something , Like to receive photons

Abdul Quadeer	Photons come into play only after proving the existence of electrons. When you are uncertain about the latter (in the sense you have not seen it), no question about the former. I am not telling that electrons don't exist, mind you.

Vanadium 50 Mentor	Ghosts? Gods and goddesses? Uncertainty about electrons? This thread is not going anywhere good.