4.2 verification and falsification debates

Question 1

What is meant by logical positivism?

Answer 1

• the logical positivists developed from the Vienna circle (a group of philosophers led by Moritz Schlick)
• argued that the only statements that have meaning are those which: are logically true OR can be verified empirically

Question 2

What is the verification principle?

Answer 2

the meaning of a proposition depends on how it is verified

Question 3

What does Ayer contribute to the verification principle?

Answer 3

‘There exists a transcendant God’ has no literal significance as there are no empirical observations that can show religious propositions to be true/false
- the meaningless nature of assertions about God’s existence don’t only apply to positive statements - any discussion surrounding philosophy of religion and the existence of God is meaningless

Question 4

Criticisms of the verification principle:

Answer 4

• the principle itself cannot be verified
• some statements don’t need to be proved because they are self-evidential
• it’s inadequate because it allows all statements to be classed as meaningful

Question 5

What is meant by the falsification principle?

Answer 5

proposed by Karl Popper - theories are consindered to be true until they are proven wrong, until they are falsified

Question 6

What does Anthony Flew wish to challenge theists about?

Answer 6

1. to admit that there is evidence that exists that points towards the disproving of God’s existence; or religion is meaningful BUT falsified
2. admit that there is no evidence that exists that could alter their state of belief - religion is unable to be proved false to the believer, yet in his view its completely meaningless

Question 7

What does R.M Hare say about the falsification principle?

Answer 7

bliks are part of our everyday experience and affects the way in which we navigate the world (they are unfalsifiable)
- a person without a blik about God’s existence will not naturally regard talk of God as an explanation for things in the world

Question 8

What does Basil Mitchell add to the falsification principle?

Answer 8

religious language should be understood as significant articles of faith
- faith means that one holds a significant belief despite competing evidence

Question 9

What does Flew suggest about religious language?

Answer 9

there is no reality behind it