• GamingChairModel@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    6 months ago

    Yes, but an absence of a proof of the positive is itself not proof of the negative, so if we’re in the unprovable unknown, we’re still back at the point that you can’t prove a negative.

    • frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      6 months ago

      we’re still back at the point that you can’t prove a negative.

      We were never at the point that you can’t prove a negative. That’s dumb & wrong.

      A woman menstruating proves negative on pregnancy.

      The existence of the largest prime was disproven thousands of years ago.

    • AndrewZabar@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      6 months ago

      Well, if the conditions are such that the positive would be absolutely certain to leave evidence, then the lack of said evidence is good enough. Like, I say it’s not snowing where I live. Absolutely nobody in my town sees so much as a single snowflake. Also, it’s 72° out. Haven’t I proven to a reasonable degree that it’s not snowing where I live?