Doubtless wasting my time here, but I'll give it a try anyway - -

-=> On 12-28-07 00:25 STEVE KEMP wrote to ED HULETT <=-

 EH>Philosophers and logicians all know that you can prove a
 EH>negative.

 SK> Math is one thing. It's not reality.

Did he mention math?  Red herring.

 SK> After all, one can't ACTUALLY subtract 3 apples from 2 apples in real
 SK> life.

Sure you can - - I'll take your two apples and your IOU for the third.

 SK> Likewise, in philosophy, anything is possible, or impossible.

Reminds me of Franken's recurring skit on SNL - Deep Thoughts, by Jack
Handy.

 EH>That is how science progresses.

 SK> Fine. Talk reality science...not phil or math.

 SK> With PURE SCIENCE...prove a negative!

 SK> You can't!

Sure you can - - and you cite an example of such below.  And negative
propositions susceptible to examination by the methods of this PURE
SCIENCE you set so much stock in are among the most easily provable
negatives.

 EH>If no one could
 EH>prove a negative, you'd still believe the world was flat.

 SK> You falsely assume that the idea that "the world is flat" is a
 SK> negative.

False premise - - it can't be shown that he assumes any such thing.

 SK> It's a positive!

Finally, a true statement by you.

 SK> And it is proven false!

Yes, and the proof of that also proved the truth of the corresponding
negative proposition- - i.e.

Positive: 'The earth is flat.' = FALSE
and
Negative: 'It is not the case that the earth is flat.' = TRUE
have both been proved.

RIGHT THERE, from your own example, is a proven negative. So there.
Neener neener neener!

 SK> To prove a negative you would have to prove something without evidence
 SK> for same.

False.  See your own example above.

 SK> It's an impossible LOOP! Get it?

 SK> Of course not.

Utter nonsense.  There are a large number of negative propositions which
may  be easily proved true.  Want some more examples?

More evidence of your logical bankruptcy in this matter is that if you
could  prove your false assertion that it is not possible to prove a
negative, you would thereby prove a negative.  Now _that_ is an
impossible loop, of your own making.  Get it?

- - -  JimH.

... I believe the word you are looking for is Aaaarrrrrgh!

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