• GamingChairModel@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          25 days 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
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            edit-2
            24 days 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
            ·
            25 days 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?