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CalciumDeficiency@lemmy.world to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml · 1 year ago

What did you get told as a child that you realised was a lie as you got older?

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What did you get told as a child that you realised was a lie as you got older?

CalciumDeficiency@lemmy.world to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml · 1 year ago
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  • Isoprenoid
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    1 year ago

    that’s not how evidence and proof works.

    Proof of a negative is common in science and mathematics.

    No, you can’t prove that something never happens or that something doesn’t exist.

    Edit: For those who are downvoting here are some sources

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burden_of_proof_(philosophy)#Proving_a_negative

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_of_impossibility

    • CommanderCloon@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      No, you can’t prove that something never happens or that something doesn’t exist. You can sometimes prove something that contradicts the existence of something, but that’s not proving that the thing itself doesn’t exist, because it’s epistemologically not possible

      • Isoprenoid
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        1 year ago

        No, you can’t prove that something never happens or that something doesn’t exist.

        Science, philosophy, and mathematics say otherwise.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burden_of_proof_(philosophy)#Proving_a_negative

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_of_impossibility

        • A_Very_Big_Fan@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Then why did you dodge the request to prove there are no tiny invisible pink elephants in your fridge, wise guy? lmao

          • Isoprenoid
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            1 year ago

            If you’re claiming my fridge has no tiny invisible pink elephants you are welcome to provide evidence.

            I will make no claims on the matter and thus have to provide no evidence either way.

            Edit: I think you’re confusing me for the other guy.

            • A_Very_Big_Fan@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              I think you’re confusing me for the other guy.

              I was, but you’re running defense for him so I think the point still stands.

              Believing claims on the grounds that they haven’t been disproven is just bad epistemology, and it certainly isn’t good science. Hence the elephants.

              • Isoprenoid
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                1 year ago

                Believing claims on the grounds that they haven’t been disproven is just bad epistemology

                Well, it’s a good thing that wasn’t my position.

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