>In America, refute = disprove.
In Britain, very commonly, refute = deny.
What "is" in a geographical area is a function of human cognition as it is in that area. When actual values are not available (like now), the mind supplies simulated values, and no notification that it has done that.
Some cultures have some insight into these matters/phenomena, some do not. Western countries tend to be in the second group, they consider (to the degree that they do, technically) such topics "woo woo". Consequently, they make the same error, over and over, and have no clue.
> As with most ambiguous words, the intention is usually clear from context anyway.
I agree that any given human agrees with their own personal opinion (what is "clear" to them).
There are literally languages that depend entirely on context to ascertain the meaning of the words spoken bc the words mean many things depending on context.
Like, entire languages of read vs read - as in "He reads that" or "He read that" , context is part of a words definition
What "is" in a geographical area is a function of human cognition as it is in that area. When actual values are not available (like now), the mind supplies simulated values, and no notification that it has done that.
Some cultures have some insight into these matters/phenomena, some do not. Western countries tend to be in the second group, they consider (to the degree that they do, technically) such topics "woo woo". Consequently, they make the same error, over and over, and have no clue.
> As with most ambiguous words, the intention is usually clear from context anyway.
I agree that any given human agrees with their own personal opinion (what is "clear" to them).