Brain time: Is it harder to prove something doesn't exist OR harder to prove something can't exist?

Question

Conside the 5000 pound bird. To prove it doesn't exist, you'd have to search every rainforest, foot by foot. To prove it can't exist, you'd demonstrate that a 5000 bird couldn't walk (let alone fly).

By the way: if you prove it can't exist, you've proven it doesn't exist.

maybe it was a bad example, but you got the idea :)

Answer 1

I need a asprin

Answer 2

The 5000 pound bird doesn't need to be able to walk or fly to exist. It is harder to prove that something cannot possibly exist than it is to say that it does not exist, but it could...

Answer 3

I think it is easier to prove that something does not exist. There is enough documentation in this world to refer to. You don't have to search yourself by foot. On the other hand, nothing is impossible so probably a 5000 bird could exist.

Answer 4

Theres two ways to prove something exists, the first is to prove without a doubt that something exists, the second is to disprove everything else.

Narrow/close minded people will find it easier to disprove others beliefs, and thus, never making their own beliefs correct. Open minded people will find it easier to prove their own beliefs, no need to disprove anyone elses beliefs.

Ignorant people will use circular logic when trying to prove or disprove other peoples beliefs.

"My god exists, I know my exists because my god said so."

Circular logic, not convincing at all. Prove what you believe to be true before claiming it is true.

So to answer your question...

Both are equal.

Answer 5

Depends on the subject, its not hard at all to prove water exists because its everywhere... a little harder to prove something exists that you cant see... like Love, Hate God/gods, atoms, or a headache.

Answer 6

Well, you can prove a negative if it contradicts itself. For example if someone told you there are cubic spheres, you could see the definition of cube is a 3 dimensional figure with a certain number of sides, vertexes..etc etc...and then you you could look at the definition of a sphere and notice that they cannot be mutually exclusive. Therefore cubic spheres contradicts itself and although the statement is a negative like 'Cubic sphere do not exist.', you could prove it was true, much like the concept of god.

Answer 7

If you make it an invisible 5000 pound bird then your bird fantasy can never be proven to not exist because it is invisible!

Hence the Christians invisible God! Their Imaginary friend!

Answer 8

i say it would be harder to prove something can't exsist because somethings can sound far fetched but, can be tue, like how when you open a band-aid wrapper in the dark it lights up, it really does, but like aliens, it would be difficult to ssy the don't exsist because you have to search all of outer space but proving in can't exsist is much harder, since we don't know much or anything out side are world.

Answer 9

it is probably easier to prove it cant because you would just have to look at the facts!! and if you prove it doesn't exist you would have to literally go out and search everywhere in the world for it!!

Answer 10

It doesn't. You don't know that it doesn't exist in some deep rain forest or some remote galaxy where that creature might be the norm.Untill we explore every inch of space we don't know. to say something doesn't exist is merly a theory

Answer 11

Well, it's logically impossible to prove something DOESN'T exist, so the only one possible is CAN'T exist, so that would be the hardest attainable goal.