Absence of evidence is evidence of absence; it just isn’t proof
One often hears it said that “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence”. For example, if you excavate some fossil sauropods and they don’t have preserved feathers, that not evidence that sauropods didn’t have feathers.
Oh yes it is.
This is an example of a mantra that’s short, catchy, and wrong. Every time you see absence of evidence, you are accumulating evidence of absence. What you’re not doing is proving absence — not with any single observation, at least.
Here’s an example. You toss a coin, and it comes down heads. You now have evidence of the presence of a head side (hurrah!) but only absence of evidence for a tails side. It’s perfectly likely that the coin has a tails side but merely happened to come up heads. So the absence of evidence for a tails side is certainly not proof that there is not a tails side.
But now suppose you toss the coin ten times, and it comes up heads every time. For a fair coin, there is less than one chance in a thousand of that happening (2^10 = 1024). Now let’s toss it 20 times. If you still see heads every time, you’re seeing a one-in-a-million event (2^20 = 1048576), and if you’re still seeing only heads after 100 tosses, that is a 1-in-1267650600228229401496703205376 event.
By this point, I’m hoping you’d be concluding with reasonable certainly that you had a two-headed coin. What’s happening is that each observation of absence (no tails side) is increasingly your confidence that there is no such side.
Absence of evidence is evidence of absence.
Source: https://svpow.com/2025/08/24/absence-of-evidence-is-evidence-of-absence-it-just-isnt-proof/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Visits: | 1,721,028,198 |
| Stories: | 8,479,456 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
