For those that say you "can't prove a negative",?

Question

ie... like asking an atheist to prove God doesn't exist. But, you can prove a negative can't you? Don't mathmeticians prove negatives all the time? (ie... someone says the number 3 is not even, to prove it they say 3 equals 2x1+1, by definition therefore, it is proven NOT to be even, so a negative is proven). What say you?

rrmage: way to avoid the issue and take the high road. Your answer is as empty as your "cognitive" thoughts, please try again.

Laptop: I beg to differ, but it's a subjective argument, by my belief, God created law and math.

Answer 1

You can't prove a PHILOSOPHICAL negative.

God ain't math, unfortunately.

Answer 2

"Can't prove a negative" in this context doesn't mean proving that something is not true in a mathematical sense. It means that proving that something doesn't exist in an infinite universe with a finite search algorithm is a logical impossibility.

Edit: As an example, try proving that a black and green penguin doesn't dance on a trumpet on SOME planet in the universe. The only way to prove that this doesn't exist is to locate EVERY planet in the universe, check it for a trumpet and see if there's a matching penguin dancing on it. If the universe is infinite in extent, this is impossible. On the other hand, to prove that such a thing DOES exist, you only have to locate the penguin and show it to someone.

In one sense this applies to your question. On the other hand, a concept such as God that is supposedly omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient and transcends time and space seems like something that can't be *proven* either. So, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree... or accept that we can't know.

Edit2: Mystine G's argument *may* hold within its own context. However, it applies to that situation because the phrase "within 50 miles of my house" defines a finite problem. Under these conditions, with a sufficient amount of time (and the assumption that the unicorn is somehow stationary and not actively hiding) it is possible to prove such a thing. However, the logic does not scale to an infinite universe.

Now, if you want to play a game it may be interesting to ask on R&S for atheists to prove that no God exists... within 50 miles of their house. But even that would prove difficult as the notion of God transcends time and space. So one could simply argue that God is everywhere and therefore IS, in fact, within that area.

Answer 3

You can prove a negative is several ways. Mathematicians do it by a variety of means:
Definition -- not all mathematical systems obey the same rule.
Containment -- mathematical proofs are defined for what they apply to (e.g. the set of real numbers)

Natural sciences do not have that convenience. It is effectively impossible to indicate that there is no lifeform anywhere on Earth with a particular property. Similarly, there may exist extreme conditions in the universe where a particular physical law (as defined by humans) is not breached.

This is why Russel's teapot is a valid argument.

Answer 4

Negatives are proven in courts of law all the time.
The prosecutor charges me with a crime. I prove him wrong by providing reliable witnesses that testify that I was miles away at the time the crime was committed.

You can't prove whether or not God exists. In a way, this makes us all agnostics.

If you live your life as if God exists, you are a theist. If not, you are an atheist.
.

Answer 5

Try proving that the number 3 does not exist. Sheesh. Anumber not being something else is not considered a negative. A car is not a fish. Did I prove a negative. No.

Answer 6

You can prove a negative. For example, I can prove that unicorns do not exist within a 50 mile radius of my house.
Atheists just say that so they don't have to prove that god doesn't exist. They lay the burden of proof on those who believe god does exist. But god can't be defined by humans...yet. That is why they can't prove whether god exists or not.

Answer 7

I can prove a negative!

-1 + -1 = -2 also -1 - (-1) = 0

My thought process + Atheist thought process = I win because i said so.

Or something.

Answer 8

This is a Flying Spaghetti Monster argument.

Answer 9

Prove to me that Russell's Teapot does not exist.

Answer 10

Until you can prove a positive (God exists), the negative is true (God doesn't exist).

Answer 11

Logic is not math... I could try to explain but your additional details show that this is something that you must work on yourself..

Your could start with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logic