In an attempt to change the main (only?) subject on this forum to something less dumb, I'd like to ask you guys something. Someone recently told me this:

"What can I be sure of? Why, that reality can be seen from a perspective such that physics must be true, such that chemistry is true, such that biology is true, such that medicine is true. And maybe some of the other fields could also be seen as true.

What I think others cannot accept is that all of this "proves" absolutely nothing (in fact nothing they know proves anything)"

What I found interesting about that is, why would anyone need proofs for everything? For instance, if we know that physics is true, isn't experimental evidence all that is required as far as proof goes? Sure, our theories may be proved incomplete in the future, but the outcome of every single experiment can never, ever be questioned. Or can it?

If I drop a stone and it falls to the ground, I may explain it as the result of a force called gravity. Later on I may choose to explain it as the effect of a curvature in spacetime. Other explanations might be thought of in the future, but no matter how you choose to explain it you can't possibly deny the fact that the stone fell to the ground. Doing so is, in my opinion, the shortest route to a mental institution, unless you're doing it just for fun in which case anything you may come up with is of absolutely no relevance.

So do you believe that everything has to be proved, or do you find the notion ridiculous?

• Do not confuse facts with theory - yaniru - October 17, 2002 - 14:21 UTC
  • Very good! - aurino1 - October 17, 2002 - 14:53 UTC
    • I have came to the conclusion that... - phillipmartin - October 18, 2002 - 00:15 UTC
• Basically, the notion is ridiculous - harvey1 - October 17, 2002 - 15:08 UTC
  • Ridiculous? Prove it! (just kidding...) - aurino1 - October 17, 2002 - 16:46 UTC
    • Looks like we are starting to understand each other - harvey1 - October 17, 2002 - 19:57 UTC
    • 'Truth and Pragmatism' - carefuluniverse - October 17, 2002 - 23:33 UTC
      • So - harvey1 - October 17, 2002 - 23:43 UTC
    • Mathematics and language - danieldgj - October 18, 2002 - 01:26 UTC
      • Very well said - harvey1 - October 18, 2002 - 02:08 UTC
        • Why? - danieldgj - October 18, 2002 - 03:22 UTC
          • Thanks - harvey1 - October 18, 2002 - 03:55 UTC
            • Direct perceptions of the world - danieldgj - October 19, 2002 - 16:33 UTC
              • Thanks, again - harvey1 - October 21, 2002 - 04:12 UTC
          • Daniel says, ask God about the laws of Physics. Has Daniel? - quiet - October 18, 2002 - 15:44 UTC
            • Mike rids us of another fine poster - harvey1 - October 18, 2002 - 18:28 UTC
              • What makes Harv say Daniel is leaving? - quiet - October 18, 2002 - 18:49 UTC
                • Nope - harvey1 - October 18, 2002 - 19:14 UTC
                  • shut up Harv - carefuluniverse - October 18, 2002 - 21:23 UTC
            • Strutting - danieldgj - October 18, 2002 - 21:59 UTC
              • P.S. - danieldgj - October 18, 2002 - 22:02 UTC
      • Pounding the second half into shape - carefuluniverse - October 18, 2002 - 02:57 UTC