Ayer thought that philosophers often debated nonsensical issues. He proposed the "verifiability criterion of meaning" -- which is a way to test whether a claim is cognitively meaningful (in the sense of being true or false). He requires that a statement, in order to be meaningful, must be
Ayer thought that philosophers often debated nonsensical issues. He proposed the "verifiability criterion of meaning" -- which is a way to test whether a claim is cognitively meaningful (in the sense of being true or false). He requires that a statement, in order to be meaningful, must be
This would make "Snow is white" meaningful -- but not "2+2=4." So we also have to make room for statements that are true by definition.
Ayer thought that philosophers often debated nonsensical issues. He proposed the "verifiability criterion of meaning" -- which is a way to test whether a claim is cognitively meaningful (in the sense of being true or false). He requires that a statement, in order to be meaningful, must be
This would make "2+2=4" meaningful -- but not "Snow is white." So we also have to make room for empirical statements.
Ayer thought that philosophers often debated nonsensical issues. He proposed the "verifiability criterion of meaning" -- which is a way to test whether a claim is cognitively meaningful (in the sense of being true or false). He requires that a statement, in order to be meaningful, must be
Ayer recognized two meaningful kinds of statement. Some statements, like "Snow is white," could be tested by experience. Other statements, like "2+2=4," are true because of how we use language. These are the only two meaningful kinds of statement; any other kind of statement is nonsensical.