the universal negative can not be proven...?

Paradox detoxed: Some universal negatives, e.g. "God is not," are logically impossible to prove, because "God" is defined to import universal transcendence. Hence, one must have both absolute transcendence and finesse, and universality; so having demonstrates infinite Godliness itself. So either you are, or you aren't, hence, the capability of proof is Self-evidently Yes or logically no.

Other universal negatives are more falsifiable, e.g. "There are no white ravens," because their qualia are limited to spacetime, etc. It is enough FAPP (John Bell's "for all practical purposes") to say, after examining a reasonable sample, that "There are likely no white ravens." This gets 'round Hume's extremist and hence absurd position of radically questioning every causal thing, at all times.

It is well to note that many "universal positives," e.g. "God Is," are beyond logical proof (God may indeed be transcendentally infinite, but how may a finite being so know and demonstrate).

What is of interest is between the absolute universals, e.g., the quantum mechanics principle that wavefunction decoherence need not involve energy nor mass, thus permitting God's Mind to abide in one, without physical causation, or a Host of Light coalescence at Garabandal, Spain, 1962, predicted by an Angel to a child, and filmed perfectly coalescing in mid-air, contra all basic laws of physics. These hints tip the balance of proof toward "God Is," as the a-theist dogmatism of "God is not" is falsified at these levels...not to mention the impossibility of logically claiming such a universal negative.

"The Path to Immortality," Mark Prophet,

"Psychoenergetic Science," William A. Tiller, Ph.D., http://www.tiller.org/

"Extraordinary Knowing," Dr. Elizabeth Mayer,

http://www.divinecosmos.com/

"Mindful Universe," Dr. Henry P. Stapp,

http://www.tcm.phy.cam.ac.uk/~bdj10

http://www.integralscience.org/

http://www.carolbowman.com/

http://noosphere.princeton.edu/

http://www.sheldrake.org/

http://www.quantumbrain.org/

http://www.noetic.org/

http://www.heartmath.org/

It is impossible to prove that something does not exist.

By the way "universal negative," like "universal positive," is an utterly vacuous phrase.

Harleigh Kyson Jr.

I can't begin to answer your question. But I'm glad j153e can so that you are both on the same page or wave length.. Later.