2 ms·
If it helps, you can rephrase it to "the exceptional nature of these examples proves the general rule that it is not the case." This is, as I recall, literally
by taeric 3y ago
If it helps, you can rephrase it to "the exceptional nature of these examples proves the general rule that it is not the case."
This is, as I recall, literally the origin of the term?
- saalweachter 3y agoI thought it was more along the lines of prove = test; the exceptions clarify the rule. Or in AI training terms, you need negative test cases as well as positive test cases to adequately define a rule. Thou shalt not kill, except all the times thou shalt.
- taeric 3y agoWords being what they are, and us not speaking the language that created this saying, I'm guessing both general ideas can be true. :D My memory is this came from Cicero and was about a place excluding women by rule, as they pointed to the exception of a woman that was allowed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exception_that_proves_the_rule https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exception_that_proves_the_rule seems to support both interpretations, and at least shows I got the speaker right. Not seeing that my specifics are good, though. I would not be shocked to know that I am wrong there.