True or False: There is no proof that X does not exist. Therefore, I can logically conclude that X does not exist.

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yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
Originally posted by: StormRider
Yllus,

Don't let those 'tards in P&N get you down. ;)
Just amusing myself, and giving myself a little reminder that people who understand basic logic are still out there. ;)
 

Malladine

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2003
4,618
0
71
Based on the premise that you know all there is to know about x. Which is not possible to know...
 

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
The poll question is still wrong:
There is no proof that X does not exist. Therefore, I can conclude that X does not exist.

Let me fill in some blanks...

"There is no proof that grass does not exist. (because it DOES exist). Therefore, I can conclude that grass does not exist. Umm, no.

I think yoe need to remove the first "not".

There is no proof that X exists. THerefore I can conclude that X does not exist...
 

torpid

Lifer
Sep 14, 2003
11,631
11
76
You need to put some sort of adverb on the second part of the statement, and modify the does not. It should read something like "There is no proof that X does or does not exist, therefore I can logically conclude that X does not exist". Also it's i.e. and not e.g.

The way you have worded it, only an idiot would say false because regardless of whether it is logical to conclude that X does not exist, you CAN conclude that, unless you are brain dead and incapable of making conclusions at all.

But to answer your eg, as worded it is false. However,

Lack of evidence that something exists proves nonexsitence if the presence of the lacking evidence is a prerequisite for the thing's existence. But that is pretty much self-evident.
 

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
7,516
1
0
Originally posted by: yllus
My perception:

- If you wish to prove X exists, you must find evidence proving such.
- If you wish to prove X does not exist, you must find evidence proving such.
- Absence of evidence proves nothing either way.

If you agree with the above, you should vote 'False'.

I think you should be shot for making a religious thread that's very poorly disguised as something else.
 

Legendary

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2002
7,019
1
0
If you're trying to prove to the atheists that their belief is logically inconsistent, you must understand that for atheists (at least most I know) it's not about existence or non-existence, but about necessity (or a lack thereof).

Edit: For clarity, I am an atheist. The above applies to me.
Most atheists only try to prove the "nonexistence of God" (impossible) when their religious friends/enemies try to prove His existence. Basically if an evangelist quotes the Bible as a source of truth, I try to undermine the credibility of the source. As a standalone argument, the nonexistence of God cannot be proven.
 

maziwanka

Lifer
Jul 4, 2000
10,415
1
0
Originally posted by: Legendary
If you're trying to prove to the atheists that their belief is logically inconsistent, you must understand that for atheists (at least most I know) it's not about existence or non-existence, but about necessity (or a lack thereof).

boo yah
 

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
12,963
1
0
Pretty impresive sully, to slip a religious circle jerk under mod-dar and have people who ordinarily wouldn't take part getting in their strokes :p
 

torpid

Lifer
Sep 14, 2003
11,631
11
76
Originally posted by: Ilmater
Originally posted by: yllus
My perception:

- If you wish to prove X exists, you must find evidence proving such.
- If you wish to prove X does not exist, you must find evidence proving such.
- Absence of evidence proves nothing either way.

If you agree with the above, you should vote 'False'.

I think you should be shot for making a religious thread that's very poorly disguised as something else.

I was thinking he should be shot for the above bolded sentence, which is literally impossible according to the scientific method.
 

MiniGolfIsFun

Senior member
Jun 6, 2001
273
0
0
False.

The burden of proof does not lie in those that say it doesn't exist, but rather on those that say it does.

For example, someone says that UFOs don't exist. Argument will go no where because you can't prove that.

However, someone says that UFOs do exist. It's up to that person to prove that it does.
 

mercanucaribe

Banned
Oct 20, 2004
9,763
1
0
Topic Summary: ie. Lack of evidence proves nonexistence.

That doesn't match the topic. The first part of your statement is not about lack of evidence. It's about lack of evidence against X. Your insistence on the correctness of your statement means that you either have a huge mental deficiency with grammar or with logic.

Tell me if this makes sense:
There is no proof that your intelligence does not exist, therefore I conclude that you are an idiot.
There is no proof that the sky is not blue, therefore I conclude that the sky is not blue.
There is no proof that Santa is imaginary, therefore I conclude that Santa is imaginary.