Posts: 296
Threads: 64
Joined: January 14, 2015
Reputation:
5
Evidence vs proof?
December 13, 2015 at 1:35 pm
Is there a difference between evidence and proof? If so, what's the difference?
If pinkie pie isn't real, then how do you explain the existence of ponies, huh? If ponies are real, then that's proof that Pinkie Pie is real. Checkmate, christians!
_______________________________
Let's stop fighting and and start smiling! This is our one and only life to live... let's be friends and live it with smiles!
-- Book of Pinkie Pie 7:3
Posts: 2080
Threads: 65
Joined: August 30, 2015
Reputation:
24
RE: Evidence vs proof?
December 13, 2015 at 1:48 pm
(This post was last modified: December 13, 2015 at 1:48 pm by Cecelia.)
Evidence suggests something is or might be true.
Proof confirms it.
Posts: 44017
Threads: 529
Joined: July 24, 2013
Reputation:
109
RE: Evidence vs proof?
December 13, 2015 at 1:55 pm
Evidence is observation. Proof is confirmation. (Strictly speaking, though, 'proof' doesn't exist outside of mathematics and those adorable word games that philosophers play.)
Boru
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 2791
Threads: 107
Joined: July 4, 2015
Reputation:
35
RE: Evidence vs proof?
December 13, 2015 at 2:25 pm
I was under the impression that evidence is data - something measurable and concrete. Proof is when you have enough scientific evidence to reach a conclusion - - a conclusion that will be replicated by others examining the same evidence.
This is the reason that no book, story, or philosophy is able to prove the existence of god. Book, story, and explanation all came out of somebody's brain, and has nothing measurable that is able to be replicated as proof for the existence of a deity. In order to have proof of a deity, the deity will have to make an appearance and submit to scientific testing that will confirm it's abilities far exceed that of a human being. And even when that happens, will we have met someone who has the ability to create galaxies - - - or just someone from another world?
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein
Posts: 44017
Threads: 529
Joined: July 24, 2013
Reputation:
109
RE: Evidence vs proof?
December 13, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Quote:Proof is when you have enough scientific evidence to reach a conclusion
Not exactly. 'Proved' has a someone different meaning in science that it does in philosophy. I think it was Asimov (I may be mistaken and can't be arsed to look it up) who said, ' "Proved" in the sciences can only mean that a proposition is established to such a high degree of confidence that to withhold provisional assent would be perverse.' Properly speaking, all scientific conclusions are provisional, never 'proved'.
Boru
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 2791
Threads: 107
Joined: July 4, 2015
Reputation:
35
RE: Evidence vs proof?
December 13, 2015 at 2:42 pm
(December 13, 2015 at 2:39 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: Quote:Proof is when you have enough scientific evidence to reach a conclusion
Not exactly. 'Proved' has a someone different meaning in science that it does in philosophy. I think it was Asimov (I may be mistaken and can't be arsed to look it up) who said, ' "Proved" in the sciences can only mean that a proposition is established to such a high degree of confidence that to withhold provisional assent would be perverse.' Properly speaking, all scientific conclusions are provisional, never 'proved'.
Boru
Oh! Thanks Boru. Yes, that's a bit different. Not being a scientist, I forget that scientists treat all "proof" as proof until better proof comes along.
I honor that. It's a constant quest for knowledge.
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein
Posts: 44017
Threads: 529
Joined: July 24, 2013
Reputation:
109
RE: Evidence vs proof?
December 13, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Yup, which is why it's often said that 'Science is made up of questions that need answers. Religion is made up of answers that must never be questioned.'
Boru
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 19788
Threads: 57
Joined: September 24, 2010
Reputation:
85
RE: Evidence vs proof?
December 13, 2015 at 3:10 pm
Proof is enough evidence to establish a proposition and its attended caveats to a specific threshold of probability.
Posts: 69248
Threads: 3759
Joined: August 2, 2009
Reputation:
259
RE: Evidence vs proof?
December 13, 2015 at 3:11 pm
For example in law "proof" means if you have evidence "beyond a reasonable doubt" you can execute someone....whether that evidence is good or not.
