Truth and Proof

[struggle4progress]

Poll question: Truth and Proof

Since a number of posts in R/T continue to be concerned with questions such as, "Can such-and-such be proved?" and "Is such-and-such true?" perhaps one should discuss "truth" and "proof."

[Parisle]

1. Forget the "poll"

---- All you need is a textbook on Inductive Logic (including discussion of the 17 Basic Fallacies of Inductive Reasoning) and a passing knowledge of the syllogistic problem model.

[struggle4progress]

3. What did you learn from your textbook about the second poll question?

[More Than A Feeling]

2. Proof enables us to make better judgments about what is true.

Otherwise, there is no way to choose between contradictory claims, and the chances of a claim supported by no proof being an accurate reflection of reality are relatively smaller than a claim that is supported by proof.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Interesting that you posted this today

From "The Bowl of Saki" by Sufi Inayat Khan (sayings for contemplation for each day of the year):

Yesterday's (Jan 6):

The truth cannot be spoken
That which is spoken is not the truth.

[struggle4progress]

7. Perhaps rather the flavor of Tao Te Ching 56:

One who knows does not speak. One who speaks does not know ...
http://www.religiousworlds.com/taoism/ttc-list.html

[zeemike]

5. None of the above

Or There is nothing new under the sun....That is; if you can imagine it it is true.

That age old question is Are we men dreaming that we are butterflies or butterflies dreaming that we are men?

[rock]

6. Some things are true that can't be proven

It's been proved. (Godel's Theorem). They are distinct concepts.