The Dog That Didn’t Bark

(audio included for paid subscribers)

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

As much as it pains me to say it, the above Carl Sagan quote is incorrect. This great thinker and writer is, uncharacteristically, bamboozling us. Absence of evidence is evidence of absence, but evidence doesn’t tell us anything for sure. Sagan’s correct statement would be, Absence of proof is not proof of absence. Changing evidence to proof is a critical distinction. Absence of proof is evidence of absence, but not proof. You can find evidence supporting whatever crazy-ass shit you want to believe, but proof is a little harder to come by.

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"If it is a Miracle, any sort of evidence will answer,
but if it is a Fact, proof is necessary."

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