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Old 14th November 2007, 11:51 PM   #702 (permalink)
LesMts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike - Indi Rev View Post
I think in this case what makes it difficult is that it really is practically impossible to logically prove that something cannot exist.
If something is defined by two logically incompatible properties then it's easy to prove that it cannot exist. Omnipotence is a logically inconsistent property.
Unless you want to start moving outside of logic, that is, but your statement deals with logic.

We can say that it's difficult to prove that nowhere on the planet are there flying horses, because they could always be where you aren't looking. Whereas you only have to find one to prove their existence. In examples like this, you're right, it is almost impossible to prove a negative.
BUT if the flying horses are defined further in such a way that it makes them logically impossible (the horses are the size of elephants with wings the size and structure of a bees, the horses have circular triangular heads) then, in as much as we can ever know anything, we can say that they don't exist.

Last edited by LesMts : 14th November 2007 at 11:55 PM.
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