James Randi Lecture @ Caltech - Cant Prove a Negative

James Randi lecture excerpt from a 2 hour lecture at Caltech in 1992.

James Randi explains why you can not prove a negative. The burden of proof is on the person presenting the claim. He then goes into an example of how you can't prove that Reindeer can fly.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• james randi
• jref
• caltech
• psychic
• paranormal
• santa
• esp

[M3PanoS]

This prick really annoys me. It's trivially simply to disprove Santa Claus. Get the definition of what someone means when they say "Santa Claus" and if the definition passes the test of coherence proceed to the next step which is to look for Santa Claus where he should be. If you don't find him, then guess what, he doesn't exist -SPECIFICALLY the Santa Claus as was defined from the outset doesn't exist.

Wow, some of you atheists are so damn stupid.

[EternalTheology]

I have a question: If you cannot disprove a "Negative", Then how can you claim that it is a "Negative".

[kryptic127]

@M3PanoS Right so we should just go to heaven and see if god is there, oh but we can't so therefore he must exist. Sound logic asshat. Like he said the burden of proof is on the person making the claim not the person who says you're wrong for making idiotic statements. Like it's been said a billion times before if i said a flying spaghetti monster was the creator of the universe, who lives beyond it, who should need to prove that me or you? Man ALL religious people are so damn stupid

[chenalos]

Randi predicted 9/11! He's Psychic!

[americandodgeball]

I have good news and bad news, religious folks. The good news is God exists! That bad news is that he's a completely incompetent asshole and you shouldn't worship him.

[OmnipotentEntity]

@EternalTheology You cannot "prove a negative", not "disprove a negative." I think you're a bit confused.

[piratesephiroth]

@EternalTheology it contains NOT, therefore it's a negative.

[devious21]

@jjplace123 You are absolutely correct. The "you can't prove a negative" is a very overly simplified title. It's a bulls-eye for people to run in yelling "YES YOU CAN! YOU CAN PROVE A NEGATIVE!!!@@!!".

[devious21]

@M3PanoS "Get the definition of what someone means.. If you don't find him, then guess what, he doesn't exist - SPECIFICALLY the Santa Claus as was defined from the outset doesn't exist.t"

So then, all that's required is for the person defining to change their definition. Move the chains. That would making trying to prove their negative exhaustive and many times impossible.

Negatives can be proven when the scope is finite or a contradiction. You are at the whim or the person making the claim.

[MoonwalkerWorshiper]

@wendighoul well 1000 reigndaars wouldn't fit on WTC especially when WTC is gone