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

stumper   wrote:
>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

Quelle surprise!

>in the best university of the country, dear.

And I have an BS and and MS, the latter from a better university. And still
you debate like a college sophomore.

>Your private usage means nothing to me.

Now you're lying.  I didn't provide a "private" usage.

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

Irrelevant.

--
Ray Fischer
rfischer{at}sonic.net

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