tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380249125951802124.post5921035990345661108..comments2023-06-14T03:52:29.452-07:00Comments on Ari's Blog: Historical Fallacy of Negative ProofArihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15844298036103120083noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380249125951802124.post-4546958852704201252011-01-06T17:15:00.665-08:002011-01-06T17:15:00.665-08:00Hey! The existence of a great-great-granduncle wou...Hey! The existence of a great-great-granduncle would be dealt with in probabilities based on the evidence we have available. Did you just make it up? The probability is quite low. Did you know from a reliable witness or chain of witnesses? Substantially higher, etc. Without physical evidence (we could do DNA tests world wide:p) we can still establish a high probability. Conversely, if you did not know that you had a great-great-granduncle it would not mean there never was a great-great-granduncle. Without good reason (hypothetical parent died after birth of earlier sibling) or sources (a diary lamenting only one child, a will document), it would be difficult to definitively conclude that it is probable that someone did not exist, especially if the reason we are investigating is because for some reason or another they exist in someone's mind.<br /><br />I don't think I want to re-read what I just said in case I just committed a logical heresy. Thanks for the comment!Arihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15844298036103120083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380249125951802124.post-30995968371840277442011-01-06T09:34:04.960-08:002011-01-06T09:34:04.960-08:00I would agree that we can not say the person is fi...I would agree that we can not say the person is fictional. But at the same time we can not affirm that the person is real. <br /><br />In order to place someone historically we need independent sources to provide reliable facts, and hopefully physical evidence. I can assure you my great-great-grandfather existed even though I do not know his name or how he looked liked as I am physical evidence. But can we prove/disprove that he had a brother? We would need some evidence to prove or disprove that.<br /><br />Anyway, interesting blog, hopefully I'll get to read more of it.<br /><br />CheersAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15435608401035346824noreply@blogger.com