what is proof?

[Mr Cheese]

Questions lead to answers
Answers lead to questions
What is proof?
Seekers go beyond proof. How can one make finite the infinite.
How long is the coastline of Britain?
The Answer? It stretches for an infinite length. As I measure the coast line of Britain, I seek to measure every minutia by getting finer and finer, more detailed with my measurement; I will discover that I will never finish measuring the coastline…
Proof is fun and dandy, but it is hardly the definitive yardstick. Because it is a yardstick; nothing more.

“We said above that Islam aims to base itself on the element “Truth” –that is, it puts the ascent there according to its own point of view and intention –and that is the “impersonal” character of this element which “decentralizes” Islamic “mythology.” In Christianity it will be doubtless be thought that the “divine reality” –manifested by Christ –has precedence over “truth”, the first being “concrete” and the second “abstract”, and this is the case when “truth” is reduced to the level of thought; but we must not lose sight of the fact we have a priori no knowledge of the divine Reality in the absence of metaphysical truth, whatever the degree of our understanding; from another angle, the word “truth” is often taken as synonymous with “reality” –“I am the way, the truth, and the life” –and this is how Islam understands it. It is precisely because we have to begin with no knowledge beyond the “truth” that we have a right to call “true’ what is “real”, a terminology that in no way prejudices the effective—and eventually “concrete” –quality of our apparently “abstract” knowledge. Be that as it may, the “subjective” manifestation of the Absolute is no less real than its “objective” manifestation: certitude is nothing less than a miracle.”

–F Schuon (Gnosis divine wisdom, page 9)

 

[rojse]

Proof is for mathematics and whiskey.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Proof is for mathematics and whiskey.

The VAST majority of humanity confuse "proof" with "evidence".

 

[Yerda]

The VAST majority of humanity confuse "proof" with "evidence".

Probably because there is little need to hold separate definitions in everyday chatter. If they use them as synonyms then that's what they are.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Probably because there is little need to hold separate definitions in everyday chatter. If they use them as synonyms then that's what they are.

I would have to disagree. The fact that some people use them as synonyms does not make them so.

Some people use the word "there" when they mean to use the word "their". This is a somewhat common mistake, but it does not make the words synonymous.

The word "evidence" indicates an item of support for an argument. The word "proof" indicates that the item is not open to dispute.

 

[3.14]

language is not solid it gets altered alot, these days there and thier has become synonymous for internet english (a fork of normal english)

ps. i can proof that am alive, i just need evidence to convince you

 

[rojse]

language is not solid it gets altered alot, these days there and thier has become synonymous for internet english (a fork of normal english)

I don't wish to pander to those that cannot spell properly or write grammatically correct sentences.

 

[Yerda]

I would have to disagree. The fact that some people use them as synonyms does not make them so.

Some people use the word "there" when they mean to use the word "their". This is a somewhat common mistake, but it does not make the words synonymous.

The word "evidence" indicates an item of support for an argument. The word "proof" indicates that the item is not open to dispute.

Aye, fair enough.

Personally I have no problem with people using proof for example in the expression, "This is some proof for X," or, "X proves Y to an extent." I do have concerns about the deliberate mangling of words and meanings in order to deceive - especially as used in the world of business and politics - but I don't think that's the case here.

Who would have to decide words were synonyms before you would accept it, TVOR?

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Who would have to decide words were synonyms before you would accept it, TVOR?

A good question, Jaiket. I would definitely yield to a good dictionary (i.e. Webster's), or if two words were equal in meaning. As an example of the latter, I would submit "data" and "fact".

I fully understand that data can be misused to distort reality, but the a raw datum itself is (at least to me) a factoid.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

The word "evidence" indicates an item of support for an argument. The word "proof" indicates that the item is not open to dispute.

There's not much proof for anything, then.

 

[Willamena]

Proof is evidence that convinces.

 

[Mr Cheese]

There's not much proof for anything, then.

:flirt: indeed!

 

[The Voice of Reason]

There's not much proof for anything, then.

Correct. "Proof", as has been stated earlier, is the child of mathematics and the distillation of liquor.

"Evidence" is the child of law, politics, rational thought, and the vast majority of the rest of the things we deal with every day.

 

[McBell]

Proof is evidence that convinces.

exactly.

 

[DallasApple]

The proof is in the pudding..

Love

Dallas

 

[blackout]

The proof is in the pudding..

Would that be a liquor dessert?
Or the reason you could not turn in your geometry homework.

 

[DallasApple]

Would that be a liquor dessert?
Or the reason you could not turn in your geometry homework.

What's geometry??

The proof(positive) is in the pudding if its thick and creamy is all I know..

Love

Dallas

 

[little_monkey]

Proof is evidence that convinces.

Prove it...:sarcastic

 

[Ben Dhyan]

Questions lead to answers
Answers lead to questions
What is proof?
Seekers go beyond proof. How can one make finite the infinite.

When the seeker realizes it's finiteness is an integral part of the infinite, the potential for 'grace' exists to 'bridge' the apparent dualistic separation perceived by the mortal mind and reveal the undelying true unity of God.

 

[little_monkey]

Proof is evidence that convinces.

Evidence that doesn't convince would either mean that the evidence is insufficient, or the person making the case was ineffective, or the person to be convinced is a thick head...