Is the following statement accurate? "Proof is only possible in logic and mathematics."?

Answer 1

No, as a scientist and an atheist who has an interest in philosophy that answer is not strictly true. There are a number of scientific relationships that can be proven to exist in one specific way and cannot exist in any other way. Usually these get called "identities." They tend to be important in allowing other things to be known.

Proof requires logic and proof uses mathematics, but proof would serve no purpose unless it could also be used in describing the world.

A more accurate way to phrase your idea is that nothing can be true if it contradicts reality. In that case, empirical falsehood would become the standard of measure rather than tautological truth.

The problem with religion and proof in general is that anything can be proven true, tautologically, with the right assumptions. To use the great phrase of the Popes, "truth cannot contradict Truth."

The meaning is that science as a mode of truth discovery must be accepted as true, given the general limitations of science, and that contradictory beliefs from prior periods need re-evaluated and understood in light of the reality of the physical world.

The bible, in many places, states the world is flat, at the center of the universe, on pillars, firmly on a foundation and so forth. These were not meant as poems or metaphors, the scripture writers were just wrong. To a Catholic, that means you just need to dig deeper into the meaning given that the witness who wrote it was limited in their understanding of the world.

To me, it just means they are ignoring the reality in order to hold onto an outdated belief system.

Regardless, proof is essential in many sciences but the assumptions used are empirically derived or tested empirically.

Answer 2

No of course not, and without really thinking about it I'll give you an example that struck me at once.

DNA....Nothing to do with maths or logic but DNA is used across the world as proof that someone was where they were at any given time, or proof that someone is, or is not the parent of a child etc etc.

I will also question whether proof is possible in logic. While maths is governed by strict rules and therefore can be seen to provide "proof" in it's answers. Logic relies on what is perceived as being possible. Anything that is only perceived as being possible is unproven.

Answer 3

Proof is in the pudding, the pudding of protoplasmic gop billions of years ago which harbored the first primitive forms of life on our planet.

At least that seems most believable to me as far as theories of our ultimate emergence on the scene go.

Specific to your question, I think it's a matter of context. A mathematical or logical proof has a clear set of givens, a clear mechanism or equation, and a clear set of outputs.

Proof that my wallet still exists in my pants pocket need only be solved by me reaching and-- what the.. OMGWTF?!

Anyway, it sounds a bit like comparing one snowflake to another vs comparing one weather system to another, the scale of a logical or mathematical proof is more fundamental and primitive compared to something like a legal proof which is made up of these and other types of proofs, along with nuances that can make such not quite straightforward at all.

Answer 4

It depends on the meaning of proof. if you are taking about A=B=C therefore A and C are the same, or 2+2=4, then yes that statement is accurate. If you are talking about proof of the existance of things, or a theoretical proof, or even using the scientific method to prove a hypothesis, then no that statement is not accurate.

Answer 5

As a Noun = Evidence of Truth or Trial Impression or Print or % of Alcohol

As an Adjective = Designed to Resist or Repell

Couldn't find the words Logic or Mathematics!

Perhaps you mean "Prove" = To test by experiment or standard

Answer 6

Yes.

Just look at 9/11 and all the stupid theories that came out of that despite the fact that everyone saw it happen either live or on the thousands of replays.

God himself could appear right now and there's people that would stand toe to toe with him and scream at Him that He is not real.

People are so deluded about their own sovereignty to the point that they actually think they have any that they will come up with any lie they possibly can to dispute truth regardless of what that truth is.

Answer 7

Murder takes place both in a watr front and in a society. the first one is rewarded the second one is penalised. a mere proof of murder DOES NOT DETERMINE if the act of such homicide is a murder. the act of committing homicide needs to be 'justified'. mathematics and logic deal with results but not the cuases the results produce

Answer 8

Not so. There's also "legal" proof.

When 500 people saw Jesus alive (after his death and burial), you can't just discount it out of hand.

When a coward who denied knowing Jesus 3 times suddenly becomes bold, even to the point of his own death (yes, Peter was crucified upside down), that is evidence.

When people have experienced God's power to change their lives, that is proof.

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding, and if you were to take the time to investigate real people, you will see the power of God at work.

And, of course, you will find all the phony's as well, but phony's are yet another proof of the real. Nobody EVER counterfeited a 3 dollar bill!

Answer 9

until it is logically or mathematically proven wrong, I will accept that theory

Answer 10

no in jail; you need proff the teacher said there are no absolute s none so i said then your absoulutely sure he said yes then no absolute is a absoult so on so on luv dad