Is it possible to prove a negative?

Question

I am referring to the existence of God.

Please explain why/why not. Maybe we can get this settled once and for all. I am an optimist, I guess.

There are minds on these boards with far greater intelligence than I possess.

Answer 1

Just answering a few questions today, for fun.

Clarance Thomas, during his supreme court nomination hearing, one day started his testimony, based on being accused of sexual harassment, by stating, "It is impossible to prove a negative."

For example, if I were to be in a public place with you, and then were to accuse you of winking at me, even though you did not, most people would assume that you did wink, for I would not have made the accusation, unless it occurred. So by denying it, you prove nothing. No matter what you would say to justify you did not wink at me, it would sound more and more contrived, and you would not prove you did not do it. Some people might become convinced you did not do it, if your denial was strong or emotional enough. But that is not proof, it is a step of faith.

Not fair I know, but you cannot prove a negative. Unless there would be hard proof, like a video, then you would be able to prove you did not wink at me. But then you are not proving a negative, you are stating a fact.

Unless God comes to earth and in some way says, here I am, we are stuck to have evidence and experience to "know" he exists, like consciousness and free will, or OBE/NDE. Or, we can try to show the opposite conclusion, that God does not exist, and that conclusion has absurdities and fatal fallacies.

God has not been proven, nor has he been disproven.

BTW, I agree with Danielle, you are a smart lady.

Answer 2

We know some negatives are possible to prove - it's done in the medial field all the time. Test can show that someone doesn't have a disease, or a woman isn't pregnant.

Of course when you're talking about Deity and spiritual things, I don't think it's possible to prove it's existence or not through the scientific method (which observes physical things). I think proof is definitely out there and available, but you'll find it through a different way than the physical observing scientific method.

thanks

Answer 3

It's possible to disprove SOME negatives. It's possible to prove, for examptle, that 2*2 is not equal to six.

What's meant by this in this forum is that it's impossible to disprove the existence of God. That's because our knowledge is limited. It is impossible to prove something that lies beyond the possibility of investigation. To disprove God, one wouls need access to that which was beyond God; to be able to touch,. measure and explain the universe in sufficient detail as to prove that there is no room for such a being to exist. As limited beings, we don't have access to the means to allow for such proof.

Basically, we can't' prove certain negatives simply because we don't have the means to do so.

Not all negatives are of this sort. One can "prove" that there is no such thing as a screw with seft-hand threads that will properly engage a nut with right-had threads. Some people use such arguments, but this isn't proving or disproving a negative; it's simply recognizing a contradiction.

Answer 4

It's impossible to prove that a god doesn't exist, because a god doesn't necessarily occupy and physical space or have any observable or measurable effect. And while it would be possible to prove that a god cannot fit within the laws of our universe, he is said to be above those laws.

It is possible to prove that certain actions attributed to certain gods didn't happen. For example, the bible claims that God created everything more or less as it is now. It has been proven that everything was not created as it is now.

Answer 5

Sometimes.

If a statement is made concerning characteristics of a specific god, then other characteristics, yet they are contradictory, then either that god doesn't exist, or he doesn't have the contradictory characteristics.

For instance, the bible is very clear that god is a good, loving, and just god. Yet it also states that people for to hell for eternity as punishment for sins. Presuming justice means there is a balance between punishment and crime, then this is contradictory. No finite sin could be justly punished with an eternal punishment.

Answer 6

Ahhh, the eternal optimist. GOD, my friend, my buddy.

Nobody can prove he exists, nobody can prove he doesn't.

But my grand daughter believes God lives in everyones heart to make you good. Hard to dispute that logic..... If you are bad NO GOD.

You believe in God, some believe in Allah, others in Buddha etc.... Is this the same deity with a different name or is it different for every religion. We will never know.,

Answer 7

Well, sort of. Inductively? Sometimes. Deductively? Never.

You can inductively demonstrate that a negative is almost certainly true or false. (Prove there isn't a bulldozer in my house. You sure? Look again. Notice that I've specified that the bulldozer is invisible and manifests itself in love, beauty, and creation.)

You can inductively demonstrate that, if there would be a bulldozer in my house, there would be evidence of it.

But you cannot deductively prove a negative.

Answer 8

No, as you cannot search every corner of the universe at the same time to show that this thing you are looking for is not there.

Answer 9

In logic yes, regarding matters of existence no.

Answer 10

You can't prove something does not exist.

If something does exist, you should be able to prove it does (among rational minds).

P.S. And you are a smart lady!