Scientific proof doesn't exist (Introduction)

by dhw, Monday, November 09, 2015, 13:16 (3301 days ago) @ David Turell

Romansh: There are some mathematical laws, the rest is still theory:

http://www.livescience.com/50521-wheres-the-proof-in-science-there-is-none.html?cmpid=N...
"I think it is best to leave the last word to one of the greatest physicists, Richard Feynman, on what being a scientist is all about:-"I have approximate answers and possible beliefs in different degrees of certainty about different things, but I'm not absolutely sure of anything."-And this is why I bring you to task when you talk about proof ... other than strong alcoholic beverages-DAVID: Actually at this level of discourse, I fully agree with you. Remember I follow Adler: proof beyond a reasonable doubt. When I reach that point, I have faith that I am right. Do I recognize that I am fallible? Of course. Absolute proof of anything does not exist, except in math.-And I agree almost completely with both of you. By coincidence, we covered this a couple of days ago on the “brain complexity” thread. David agreed when I wrote: “On our epistemology thread ages ago, I suggested that the nearest we can get to objective truth is some kind of general*** consensus, but I agree with you that when this consensus is achieved, and especially when science and technology confirm the accuracy of our perceptions, it is absurd to assume that none of them are accurate. In fact, our daily lives would turn to sheer chaos if our perceptions did not correspond to reality.” -However, in the context of origins, relating to God, life and the universe, David's “beyond a reasonable doubt” depends totally on his subjective understanding of “reasonable”, and is not confirmed by a general consensus, or by science or technology. "Proof beyond a reasonable doubt" is therefore far too authoritative in my view, and so I am on Romansh's side - for a change! - and would argue that the word "proof" should be avoided other than when referred to negatively, as in the heading of this thread. -***I inadvertently left out “general” in my original post. There could of course be a consensus among members of the Flat Earth Society that the Earth is flat, but most of us would hesitate to say that gets us anywhere near the objective truth.