The discussion centers on the assertion that negative statements cannot be proven, with participants providing various examples and counterarguments. It is established that certain negative statements, such as "Five is not equal to four" and "The ancient Egyptians did not watch Seinfeld," can be proven. The conversation highlights that the ability to prove a negative depends on the specificity and definability of the positive statement being refuted. Ultimately, the claim that one cannot prove a negative is challenged, particularly in the context of scientific inquiry and philosophical debate.
PREREQUISITESThis discussion is beneficial for philosophers, logicians, scientists, and anyone interested in the nuances of argumentation and the philosophy of science.
TheStatutoryApe said:I've read that a long time ago a small town sent a box of rocks to a university explaining that they had fallen from the heavens and pelted the town. The scientists laughed and explained that this was quite absurd. There was no scientific evidence that such a thing could ever possibly occur. And I'm sure that the townspeople who sent the rocks were very likely unable to produce a scientifically valid description of the phenomena.
Even today it is extremely rare that meteorites are found that were actually observed to fall and only a handful of meteorites are turned in per year though it is estimated that hundreds fall to Earth per year.
There are any number of examples of phenomena, creatures, and objects that science heavily refuted until the day they were proved true. Would you say that any negative statements made regarding these things were proved? at least until reality got in the way of the proof?
Moridin said:The reason that this analogy is invalid is because those scientists rejection something because of a lack of information, whereas my rejection of ghosts is based on the existence of information.