• GamingChairModel@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Yes, but an absence of a proof of the positive is itself not proof of the negative, so if we’re in the unprovable unknown, we’re still back at the point that you can’t prove a negative.

          • AndrewZabar@lemmy.world
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            7 months ago

            Well, if the conditions are such that the positive would be absolutely certain to leave evidence, then the lack of said evidence is good enough. Like, I say it’s not snowing where I live. Absolutely nobody in my town sees so much as a single snowflake. Also, it’s 72° out. Haven’t I proven to a reasonable degree that it’s not snowing where I live?

          • frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml
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            7 months ago

            we’re still back at the point that you can’t prove a negative.

            We were never at the point that you can’t prove a negative. That’s dumb & wrong.

            A woman menstruating proves negative on pregnancy.

            The existence of the largest prime was disproven thousands of years ago.

    • catloaf@lemm.ee
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      7 months ago

      If you enumerate each particle in the cup and verify that it is not a milk particle, yes.

      (Milk is a complex colloid of multiple compounds, so good luck with that.)