Topic: Is it possible to prove a negative?

Anonymous A started this discussion 2 years ago #114,196

For example, if I claimed that I had fifteen dollars in my pocket, would it be possible prove that I didn't?

Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 9 minutes later[^] [v] #1,263,979

That's not a good example, because obviously it would be very easy to prove that you didn't (tie you up / knock you out, then search your pockets).

On the other hand, it is much harder to prove that something did not happen in the past vs. something that did - that is more what is meant by proving a negative.

Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 26 minutes later, 35 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #1,263,980

@previous (B)

> On the other hand, it is much harder to prove that something did not happen in the past vs. something that did

"King Henry VIII did not kill JFK" is an easily provable negative.

> that is more what is meant by proving a negative.

No it isn't.

Anonymous B replied with this 2 years ago, 14 minutes later, 50 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #1,263,981

@previous (C)
> "King Henry VIII did not kill JFK" is an easily provable negative.
Obviously. You just made the same mistake as Anon A of providing a bad example.

> No it isn't.
Burden of proof that it isn't is on you.

Anonymous C replied with this 2 years ago, 1 hour later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,263,985

@previous (B)

> > "King Henry VIII did not kill JFK" is an easily provable negative.
> Obviously.

So you admit you're wrong. Ok thanks, that'll be all.

> Burden of proof that it isn't is on you.

No it isn't.

Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 4 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,263,986

No.

Anonymous E joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 4 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,263,988

@previous (Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU)
if it isn't possible then you can't prove that it isn't possible so maybe it is possible

Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU replied with this 2 years ago, 5 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,263,991

@previous (E)
Exactly.

Anonymous B replied with this 2 years ago, 3 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,263,992

@1,263,985 (C)
> So you admit you're wrong.
No, I don't. Prove it.

> Ok thanks,
So you admit I'm correct. You're welcome.

> that'll be all.
No it won't.

> > Burden of proof that it isn't is on you.
> No it isn't.
Yes it is. Thanks for falling into my trap and demonstrating that I was right.

Anonymous C replied with this 2 years ago, 5 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,263,993

@previous (B)

> Yes it is.

It isn't.

Anonymous B replied with this 2 years ago, 6 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,263,995

@previous (C)
> > Yes it is.
> It isn't.
Prove it. You can't. Thanks for playing.

Anonymous C replied with this 2 years ago, 50 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,263,997

@previous (B)

> > > Yes it is.
> > It isn't.
> Prove it.
Prove what?

Anonymous B replied with this 2 years ago, 16 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,000

@previous (C)
> Prove what?
There's no point in your continuing to argue if you can't keep up.

Anonymous C replied with this 2 years ago, 8 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,001

@previous (B)
So you don't even remember. Ok thanks, that'll be all.

Anonymous B replied with this 2 years ago, 9 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,005

@previous (C)
> So you don't even remember.
I do, you don't.

> Ok thanks,
No need to thank me twice.

> that'll be all.
You already said that and I told you it wouldn't. Guess you were wrong about that too.

Anonymous C replied with this 2 years ago, 6 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,007

@previous (B)

> > So you don't even remember.
> I don't.

:)

dw !p9hU6ckyqw joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 1 minute later, 4 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,008

There is no evidence to the contrary

Anonymous B replied with this 2 years ago, 9 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,009

@1,264,007 (C)
> > > So you don't even remember.
> > I don't.
> :)
I know you don't. We had already established that. You're a bit slow, aren't you? Thanks for catching up though. :)

Anonymous C replied with this 2 years ago, 11 minutes later, 4 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,010

@previous (B)
:)

Throckmorton !dxiFV8kfVg joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 3 hours later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,027

You cannot prove a negative counterclaim to an affirmative claim. For example, if I ask you to prove that God exists, your counterargument cannot be to ask me to prove that God does not exist.

Anonymous C replied with this 2 years ago, 8 minutes later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,029

@previous (Throckmorton !dxiFV8kfVg)

> You cannot prove a negative counterclaim to an affirmative claim.

You can.

> For example, if I ask you to prove that God exists, your counterargument cannot be to ask me to prove that God does not exist.

Yes it can. Watch: prove that God does not exist.

Throckmorton !dxiFV8kfVg replied with this 2 years ago, 2 minutes later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,030

@previous (C)
I cannot prove that.

Anonymous B replied with this 2 years ago, 13 minutes later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,032

@previous (Throckmorton !dxiFV8kfVg)
Yes, it's just like how Anon C failed to prove that I wasn't correct.

Anonymous C replied with this 2 years ago, 7 minutes later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,033

@1,264,030 (Throckmorton !dxiFV8kfVg)

> I cannot prove that.

Lol, dumbass.

dw !p9hU6ckyqw replied with this 2 years ago, 19 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,120

@1,264,027 (Throckmorton !dxiFV8kfVg)
Maybe you can't 😂

Anonymous B replied with this 2 years ago, 14 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,121

@previous (dw !p9hU6ckyqw)
> Maybe you can't 😂
I'd like to see you try.

dw !p9hU6ckyqw replied with this 2 years ago, 1 hour later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,126

@previous (B)
Which negative should i prove

Anonymous B replied with this 2 years ago, 1 hour later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,134

@previous (dw !p9hU6ckyqw)
The one Throckmorton said they couldn't prove.

!MLHqI35Srs joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 15 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,186

That's either an -'- or a -'-[blankspace]-'- and, rarely, a ---.

Trust me, I am albeit by the sincerest means an Argentinian (possibly now-former) Dr.

dw !p9hU6ckyqw replied with this 2 years ago, 13 hours later, 2 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,259

@1,264,134 (B)
Well my counterargument could in fact be to ask him to prove that god does not exist

Poll Watcher joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 17 hours later, 3 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,324

ITT: Fags arguing..

Anonymous J joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 43 minutes later, 3 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,327

We might be able to detect them when technology improves.

Anonymous B replied with this 2 years ago, 3 hours later, 3 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,264,333

@1,264,324 (Poll Watcher)
> ITT: Fags being trolled..
ftfy

Minichan