Is It Possible to Prove Something As True or False?

Blessings. It is impossible to determine the truth or falsity of something without evidence either way. Falsehoods cannot be considered evidence because they are false. However, evidence, on the other hand, cannot be considered false because it is evidence. The best we can ever hope for is to find overwhelming evidence. People who assert that something is truly true have lost their way in critical thinking.

Understanding Evidence and Its Limitations

First Evidence is All We Have

First and foremost, evidence is all we have. Our knowledge and understanding of the world are built upon the evidence we gather and analyze. The best we can ever do is to find overwhelming evidence. Even when we have overwhelming evidence that is valid and accurate, our natural state is to hold some level of doubt. This is the nature of human cognition and the uncertainties that come with it.

Critical Thinking Always Applies

Critical thinking always plays a crucial role in this process. As humans, we must ask questions, seek answers, and engage alternate viewpoints. The worst situation is to be confidently wrong. Embracing doubt and questioning our assumptions is the key to deeper understanding and more accurate conclusions.

The Role of Ideas in this Context

Ideas Are Neither True nor False

.Dock here, ideas can be both useful and nebulous. For example, an idea for a new kind of eggbeater is neither true nor false. I had the idea, or I did not have the idea. It is an abstract thought that exists without a definitive truth or falsity. Would you grill me about the details of my new eggbeater to determine if I actually had the idea or heard about it somewhere? The essence of an idea is not about its truth or falsity, but rather its potential and value.

Evaluating Assertions vs. Ideas

Statements that are asserted can be judged as true or false. For instance, the statement “My new eggbeater is the best in the world” can be judged as true or false based on evidence. However, the idea of making one cannot. The idea is a creative thought, not a claim that can be proven or disproven.

Say, “I saw an eggbeater on the QVC channel and I have an idea that I can make a better one for less.” How can you determine that is true or false? You might say, “You don’t even have a TV, when did you see an ad for an eggbeater on QVC?” Does that mean my idea is false or that you have determined that the germ for my idea is false? You need more context to determine whether the idea is valid or not. The idea itself is not subject to the same scrutiny and validation as a fully formed assertion.

The Role of Assumptions and Cultural Definitions

Assumptions and Cultural Definitions

Some concepts are defined without discussion, fitting into the culture and making them unchangeable. For instance, defining a bachelor as a “man who is not married” is an accepted idea that is not questioned. Following this, a statement like “John is a bachelor” can be either true or false, whereas a contradiction like “John is a married bachelor” does not make sense and can be considered universally false. In a mathematical system like geometry, we have ideas about what a point, line, and plane are, but these concepts are not defined precisely. They are part of a shared understanding, and any contradictions run against the established framework.

Understanding the nature of evidence, truth, and ideas is crucial in the digital age. The availability of information and the speed of transmission mean that we must be vigilant in our assessment of truth and the validity of ideas. As content creators and consumers in the digital landscape, we must hold ourselves to high standards of critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning to ensure that our understanding of the world is robust and accurate.