Ayer Logical Postivism Verification ContinueD

Question 1

What other verification does AJ Ayer develop ?

Answer 1

Verification in practise and principle

Question 2

For Ayer: verification in practise and principle , what should we use ?

Answer 2

We should use the weaker version of the original version of the verification principle

Question 3

A.J Ayer verification in practise and principle

what is the weaker approach to the argument called ?

Answer 3

Verification in Principle

Question 4

A.J Ayer verification in practise and principle

Why did Ayer prefer the weaker form of the argument: verification in principle

Answer 4

• more flexible
• adaptable as by saying verification needs to be in principle, we know how statements in principle can be tested empirically

Question 5

A.J Ayer verification in practise and principle

Why does Ayer prefer the weaker version : verification principle and for it to be tested empirically

Answer 5

Can be tested Not right now but instead day what you CAN do to test it in principle

Question 6

What is the strength of verification in principle ?

Answer 6

More accommodating and means any statement can be considered as meaningful

Question 7

A.J Ayer verification in practise and principle

Verification in principle : quote example

Answer 7

‘Intelligent life else where in the galaxy’

Question 8

Verification in principle :

If you used verification in practise for the statement ‘intelligent life elsewhere in the galaxy’ why would this be meaningless

Answer 8

It would be meaningless because you cannot see the intelligent life right now in the galaxy BUT verification in principle WOULDsay it is meaningful because it is possible for you can test it empirically one day WITH **SENSE AND EXPERIENCE **

Question 9

A.J Ayer verification in practise and principle

What is the stronger version of the verification principle ?

Answer 9

Verification in practise

Question 10

What is verification in practise: stronger version ?

Answer 10

• If there is a direct sense or experience with tautology to support the statement
• need to be able to see if for yourself right here and now
• more narrow approach to meaningful language

Question 11

Another argument that Ayer developed ?

Answer 11

Verification principle and God language
“God exist”

Question 12

Verification principle and God language

What does Ayer think about this statement “God exist”

Answer 12

That this statement is not analytical (true by definition) or synthetic (empirically verifiable) even in principle

Question 13

Verification principle and God language
“God exist”

What does Ayer being an atheist link to this stamenent of “God exists”

Answer 13

Because he was an aethist, so when we die we die so no life after death so verification needs to occur within this lifetime as no empircal proof of a transcendent God in this lifetime

Question 14

Verification principle and God language
“God exist”

So why did Ayer see the stamenent of God exist as meaningless ?

Answer 14

• can neither be true or false
• nonsense to even consider
• does not meet the verification principle and we cannot prove this

Question 15

Verification principle and God language
“God exist”

Key statement by Ayer

Answer 15

”No stamenent that purports to describe the nature of transcendent God can possess any literal significance” (AJ AYER)

Question 16

Verification principle and God language
“God exist”

What does Ayer key statement mean ?

Answer 16

So language that goes beyond tautology e.g beauty claims, emotions or ethical statement are meaningless as have no objective goodness or right and wrong

Question 17

What is Aquinas retort to Ayer stating that ethical statements are no mr objective as there is no right or wrong

Answer 17

Aquinas natural moral law states that there’s is an objective right and wrong based on the eternal law of God

Question 18

What are the strengths of AJ AYER verification principle

Answer 18

• consistent with ideas of John Locke and David Humes who argue truth and knowledge by sense (evidence) e.g if met someone famous others would want to see picture
• aligns with empirical evidence in the modern world and enlightenment society where people value evidence and science as evidence

Question 19

What are the weakness of Ayer verification principle ?

Answer 19

• verification principle fails its own test because it is not analytical or synthetic itself so principle is meaningless and restricted/narrow on what is meaningful
• for the original strong verification it should be meaningful even if cannot be verified in practise
• hicks would say that religious claims are verifiable after death and can be eschatologically verified after death can see if God is there

Question 20

What is AJ response to HICKS

Answer 20

When you die you die you cannot verify anything after you die because your sense will stop working

Question 21

What is HICKS retort to AJ AYER

Answer 21

No you can verify as when you die you can see if for yourself if there’s is a heaven or not