From: rfischer{at}sonic.net (Ray Fischer)

stumper   wrote:
>Ray Fischer wrote:
>> stumper   wrote:
>>> Geoff wrote:

>>>>> Do you know what is society?
>>>>> Can you prove its existence?
>>>> The existence of society is manifest. Once again, proof is
for mathematics
>>>> and moonshiners. Sorry you can't get that through your
dense skull. You
>>>> probably have difficulty with the middle three activities
I mentioned
above.
>>> Actually you are using a private language.
>>
>> Actually you are in idiot.
>>
>>> You are not writing a private journal here.
>>> You need to figure out the usage other people are using.
>>
>> YOu need to stop babbling childish nonsense.
>>
>>> When in doubt, just Google "scientific proof."
>>> It gets 828,000 hits.
>>
>> And "alien abduction" gets over a million.
>
>Are you saying that such phenomena do not exist?

Yep.  There is no evidence that alien abduction actually exists.

>You have lost this argument long time ago.
>Get over it soon.

You really are quite the arrogant idiot.

>proof (SHOWING TRUTH)
>noun [C or U]
>a fact or piece of information which shows that something exists or is true:
>http://dictionary.cambridge.org

    "Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary"

    "We publish dictionaries for people learning English all over the
    world."

>Do you speak English?

Better than you.  I don't need a learner's dictionary.

Here's a better definition.  I'm not going to give the defintion from the
OED because I don't feel like typing it in, so this one will have to
suffice.

    Function:   noun
    Etymology:  Middle English prof, prove, alteration of preve, from
    Anglo-French preove, from Late Latin proba, from Latin probare to
    prove -- more at PROVE
    1 a : the cogency of evidence that compels acceptance by the mind
    of a truth or a fact b : the process or an instance of
    establishing the validity of a statement especially by derivation
    from other statements in accordance with principles of reasoning
    2 obsolete : EXPERIENCE
    3 : something that induces certainty or establishes validity
    4 archaic : the quality or state of having been tested or tried;
    especially : unyielding hardness
    5 : evidence operating to determine the finding or judgment of a
    tribunal
    6 a plural proofs or proof : a copy (as of typeset text) made for
    examination or correction b : a test impression of an engraving,
    etching, or lithograph c : a coin that is struck from a highly
    polished die on a polished planchet, is not intended for
    circulation, and sometimes differs in metallic content from coins
    of identical design struck for circulation d : a test photographic
    print made from a negative
    7 : a test applied to articles or substances to determine whether
    they are of standard or satisfactory quality
    8 a : the minimum alcoholic strength of proof spirit b : strength
    with reference to the standard for proof spirit; specifically :
    alcoholic strength indicated by a number that is twice the percent
    by volume of alcohol present 

You're trying to apply definition 1b to the fields of science where it
clearly doesn't apply because science depends upon EVIDENCE while your
notion of proof depends upon reason.  Not even 1a applies because science
is always looking for alternate or better explanations for observed
phenomena.

>Can science prove that the earth exists?

Nope.

>Can science prove that the universe exists?

Nope.

--
Ray Fischer
rfischer{at}sonic.net

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