Free Philosophical Discussions

Logical Positivism

I recently reread Steve Hawking's book

The Universe in a Nutshell. Hawking is a positivist. He believes that unless something is testable and verifiable that it is not real. Hawking uses this "easy-out" to avoid ever getting into discussions on theology or metaphysics. From a scientific standpoint I agree with him. I therefore believe that all the current "science" of intelligent design is pointless. God does not lie within the grasp of science. Any proof of God's existence would deny faith and then you get the whole babelfish paradox from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
However, I disagree with the premise that if you can't test it then it isn't real. This seems very short sighted to me. What if tomorrow some device is invented that makes measuring something possible that is impossible today? Does that therefore mean that they don't exist, they aren't real today but, they will be tomorrow? There are many things in this universe that I believe are real but, Hawking would be unable to quantify and test. To paraphrase Carl Sagan, "Prove to me that your father loves you." Is Hawking claiming that love it not real?