# Possibility != Existence

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-existence/152538>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [February 3, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-existence/152538 "2003-02-03T17:32:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 28

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**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-existence/152538/541 "2003-02-18T23:52:02Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> 0 + 0 = 0 is a true statement.
> 
> “From nothing came something” is truer.

Ever seen the set theory construction of the natural numbers?

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**Author:** ![man779977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@man779977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/man779977)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-existence/152538/542 "2003-02-19T01:04:24Z")

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unicorns, dragons, griffons, gargoyles, vampires, minotaurs…

the list goes on and on. We obviously thought them up so there is a possibility - but they dont exist.

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**Author:** ![Milum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possibility-existence/152538/543 "2003-02-19T02:07:19Z")

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_Ever seen the set theory construction of the natural numbers?_ ~ S. Mundi

Ever understood that the \* set theory construction of natural numbers \* is a nice association that has no meaning beyond its cute coincidence?

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