As an empiricist, Ayer holds that all factual knowledge is based on sense experience.
Some philosophers object that "2+2=4" is a factual truth that we know but don't base on sense experience. In response, Ayer says that "2+2=4"
As an empiricist, Ayer holds that all factual knowledge is based on sense experience.
Some philosophers object that "2+2=4" is a factual truth that we know but don't base on sense experience. In response, Ayer says that "2+2=4"
He thinks "2+2=4" IS true.
As an empiricist, Ayer holds that all factual knowledge is based on sense experience.
Some philosophers object that "2+2=4" is a factual truth that we know but don't base on sense experience. In response, Ayer says that "2+2=4"
He thinks "2+2=4" IS known with certitude.
As an empiricist, Ayer holds that all factual knowledge is based on sense experience.
Some philosophers object that "2+2=4" is a factual truth that we know but don't base on sense experience. In response, Ayer says that "2+2=4"
He thinks "2+2=4" holds independently of sense experience -- since no sense experience could show it to be false.
As an empiricist, Ayer holds that all factual knowledge is based on sense experience.
Some philosophers object that "2+2=4" is a factual truth that we know but don't base on sense experience. In response, Ayer says that "2+2=4"
He says "2+2=4" is true by convention -- it's true because of how we use words. It's an analytic statement, like "All bachelors are single." As a verbal truth, it can be known with certitude but doesn't say anything about the world.