What is the best way to prove that you don't know something?

Answer 1

It is almost impossible to prove a negative statement, doubly so for something as subjective as personal knowledge. The only way that I can think of, and this would really depend on what the somehting you don't know is, is to have an impartial third party confirm that you act as you would if you didn't have the knowledge.

Example: You don't know that the bridge is out, so you keep on driving down the road to cross the river.

Answer 2

Most people would say that for you to know something it would have to be true.

So I can never know that Liverpool are a good football team because Liverpool are a bunch of r*d *****

So the most secure way to prove you don't know "P" is to prove "not P".

Conversely it would be very difficult to prove you didn't know "P" if P were true and someone told you. Assuming you can trust their honesty and judgement once they have told you "P" then you do know "P". If you can't trust their honesty and judgement then you're best move is to prove that THEY do not know "P". If they do not know "P" then they can't have passed the knowledge of "P" onto you.

Answer 3

Simply tell the truth. When someone asks you a question, just say, "I just don't know." I cannot stand folks that try to answer every question. Even about topics they have little or knowledge in. Many politicians try to do this. I respect one that says he doesn't know the answer to a question but he will find out.

Answer 4

It depends on the circumstances. You could fail a test. You could demonstrate you don't know how to fly by trying to fly off of a building. You could demonstrate you don't know what the lottery number will be by buying the wrong number.

Answer 5

Open your mouth and say something ignorant. "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and prove it."

Answer 6

I would simply say " I honestly don't know" or I don't answer them. I can't answer what I don't know. Now for the other person to convince themselves that you don't know, is another story....LOL. Some will beat the dead horse convincing themselves that you actually know something.

Answer 7

If it is to be so, then one only has to open his mouth to prove himself the fool.

Steven Wolf

Answer 8

To not have to prove anything?

Answer 9

Say so and remain silent for the rest of the argument!

Answer 10

I've struggled this with my mother with things I don't know about. She's always arguing with me trying to tell me what I know and what I don't. But ask yourself, Who is this person telling me what I know and what I don't know.
Just honestly tell them you don't know and remember that it's okay, not to know.
* But make sure you look up what you don't know, refresh your brain with new information.