What is your answer?

Imagine that your roommate, who has been drinking too much, says "There's a 2-inch green elephant sitting on your shoulder." Ayer would say that this statement is

    { 1 } - meaningful (true or false) -- but false.
    { 2 } - meaningful (true or false) -- and thus true.
    { 3 } - meaningless.

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Directions: Click on a number from 1 to 3.
























 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

























1 is correct!

Imagine that your roommate, who has been drinking too much, says "There's a 2-inch green elephant sitting on your shoulder." Ayer would say that this statement is

Ayer would look at your shoulder and then say "There's no 2-inch green elephant there! Your claim is false -- and my experience shows this."

Your roommate's statement differs from the following one, which can't be tested by experience: "There's an invisible and otherwise undetectable angel sitting on your shoulder." Ayer would say that THIS statement is meaningless.

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Before continuing, you might try some wrong answers.
























 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

























2 is wrong. Please try again.

Imagine that your roommate, who has been drinking too much, says "There's a 2-inch green elephant sitting on your shoulder." Ayer would say that this statement is

    { 1 } - meaningful (true or false) -- but false.
    { 2 } - meaningful (true or false) -- and thus true.
    { 3 } - meaningless.

Ayer would look at your shoulder and then say "There's no 2-inch green elephant there! Your claim is false -- and my experience shows this."

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3 is wrong. Please try again.

Imagine that your roommate, who has been drinking too much, says "There's a 2-inch green elephant sitting on your shoulder." Ayer would say that this statement is

    { 1 } - meaningful (true or false) -- but false.
    { 2 } - meaningful (true or false) -- and thus true.
    { 3 } - meaningless.

No, it's meaningful -- since we can test by experience whether it's true or false.

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the end