From: stumper 

Ray Fischer wrote:
> 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      alcohol>
>
> 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.


Even though it was decades ago,
I majored in the philosophy of science in the best university of the
country, dear. Your private usage means nothing to me.


>> Can science prove that the earth exists?
>
> Nope.
>
>> Can science prove that the universe exists?
>
> Nope.
>

Do you believe the universe exists?

By definition?

--
~Stumper

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