No scientist has ever seen an electron

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the philosophical implications of believing in entities that have not been directly observed, specifically electrons, ghosts, and deities. Participants argue that while electrons generate testable predictions through scientific methods, concepts like ghosts and gods lack such empirical support. The conversation highlights the distinction between scientific inquiry and religious belief, emphasizing that science operates on binary logic—something either exists or it does not. The debate ultimately questions the validity of belief systems that do not adhere to empirical evidence.

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  • Familiarity with the concept of empirical evidence
  • Knowledge of philosophical arguments regarding existence and belief
  • Awareness of the distinction between science and religion
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No scientist has ever seen an electron...

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?
 
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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.
 


No scientist has ever seen wind either.
 


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.
=]
 


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


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

What else can it mean ? :rolleyes:
 


ibysaiyan said:
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.
 


arildno said:
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?
 


Then in a sense we have seen electrons , because they emit photons all the time .
 
  • #10


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.
 
  • #11


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

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