Scientific 'proof' is certainly not absolute. Strong evidence at best really. Science hasn't 'proven' evolution really because proof is absolute evidence.
But informally and colloquially proof can be less than absolute, it can be just evidence. Like in the legal system when you prove something "beyond reasonable doubt", it's not actually proof, just evidence, but in that context it's called proof.
In more formal contexts 'proof' is absolute and science doesn't call its evidence proof. But a standard dictionary definition just means evidence:
So indeed, science and scientists wouldn't call it 'proof' and 'scientific proof' is called evidence, really. But when us non-scientists speak of 'proof' we often just mean evidence anyway.
"Evidence" is indeed a better word though, because "proof" has at very least a connotation of being absolute more than "evidence" does. Even if, as you can see, the dictionary definition suggests they're identical in meaning.
The dictionary only deals with denotation, not connotation, that's the thing. And I personally consider connotations part of the definition. Which is why I consider the concept of 'equality' being more than simply 'equalness', because the connotation involves just equalness. Not just equallness.
But informally and colloquially proof can be less than absolute, it can be just evidence. Like in the legal system when you prove something "beyond reasonable doubt", it's not actually proof, just evidence, but in that context it's called proof.
In more formal contexts 'proof' is absolute and science doesn't call its evidence proof. But a standard dictionary definition just means evidence:
Dictionary.com's definition of 'proof Wrote:evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement.
So indeed, science and scientists wouldn't call it 'proof' and 'scientific proof' is called evidence, really. But when us non-scientists speak of 'proof' we often just mean evidence anyway.
"Evidence" is indeed a better word though, because "proof" has at very least a connotation of being absolute more than "evidence" does. Even if, as you can see, the dictionary definition suggests they're identical in meaning.
The dictionary only deals with denotation, not connotation, that's the thing. And I personally consider connotations part of the definition. Which is why I consider the concept of 'equality' being more than simply 'equalness', because the connotation involves just equalness. Not just equallness.
