Ayer requires that empirical statements must be able to be established conclusively by experience.
Ayer requires that empirical statements must be able to be established conclusively by experience.
This is too strong, since we can't establish any universal principles (like "All men are mortal") conclusively by any finite series of observations -- since the future could always bring up an exception. So this this idea would lead us to conclude that no scientific laws are empirical.
Ayer requires only "weak verifiability." For a statement to be empirical, it suffices that experience can show the statement to be probably true.
Ayer requires that empirical statements must be able to be established conclusively by experience.
This is too strong, since we can't establish any universal principles (like "All men are mortal") conclusively by any finite series of observations -- since the future could always bring up an exception. So this this idea would lead us to conclude that no scientific laws are empirical.
Ayer requires only "weak verifiability." For a statement to be empirical, it suffices that experience can show the statement to be probably true.