Some philosophers make claims about a reality transcending sense experience. For example, they talk about God, or about immaterial souls, or about objective values.
Ayer's chief objection to this is that
Some philosophers make claims about a reality transcending sense experience. For example, they talk about God, or about immaterial souls, or about objective values.
Ayer's chief objection to this is that
His criticism goes deeper than that. Ayer thinks that there's no truth to be known on such issues.
Some philosophers make claims about a reality transcending sense experience. For example, they talk about God, or about immaterial souls, or about objective values.
Ayer's chief objection to this is that
Genuine issues must be capable of being resolved -- by appealing to an empirical test or to how we use language. Metaphysical issues can't be resolved in either way. Hence metaphysics is nonsense.
Some philosophers make claims about a reality transcending sense experience. For example, they talk about God, or about immaterial souls, or about objective values.
Ayer's chief objection to this is that
This historical point suggests that something may be wrong with such metaphysical claims. Ayer tells us more specifically what he thinks is wrong.