Demarcation of science: Logical positivism

Question 1

Verification principle

Answer 1

A statement or proposition is meaningful only if it can be empirically verified or is tautological (i.e., true by definition, such as in mathematics or logic)

Question 2

Scientific language

Answer 2

O’s need to be expressed in a language that is universal and intersubjective.
A logical language where there can be mistakes - otherwise it’s meaningless
Formal mode of speech

Question 3

Protocol sentences

Answer 3

Observation sentences (O)
Atomic propositions X is Y

Question 4

Theory of meaning

Answer 4

Logical positivism is not a theory of science theory but more a theory of meaning

Question 5

Quine-Duhem’s thesis

Answer 5

Typically, T does not deductively imply O; rather, it is T&A that deductively implies O (here, T is a theory, O is an observation statement, and A is a set of auxiliary assumptions) Importantly, the auxiliary assumptions should be independently testable

Question 6

Meaninglessness

Answer 6

Statements that cannot be proven true or false

Question 7

Intersubjective

Answer 7

Shared by more than one conscious mind

Question 8

Induction

Answer 8

Passing from singular statements to universal statements

Question 9

Induction problem

Answer 9

We cannot prove by induction, i.e. truth of conclusion doesn’t follow from truth of premises

Question 10

Pseudo-statement

Answer 10

Statement with pseudowords in them
Statement with ill-formed syntax

Question 11

Thesis of epistemological physicalism

Answer 11

The physical language is universal and intersubjective.
“psychology […] may formulate its sentences as it pleases—these sentences will […] be translatable into physical language”

Question 12

Metaphysical statements (seen from logical positivism)

Answer 12

Logical positivism is against metaphysics because it views metaphysical statements as meaningless, unempirical, and speculative

Question 13

Pragmatism

Answer 13

An approach that evaluates theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application.

Question 14

Realism

Answer 14

An external reality that our theories aim to describe, though our understanding is always mediated by our conceptual frameworks

Question 15

Elementary sentence (S)

Answer 15

X is the word.
Must answer the questions:
* What sentence is S deducible from, and what sentences are deducible from S?
* Under what conditions is S supposed to be true, and under what conditions false?
* How is S to be verified?
What is the meaning of S?

Question 16

Concept of hypostatisation

Answer 16

Regarding something abstract as a material thing

Question 17

Significance

Answer 17

The original meaning of a word

Question 18

Meaningful statement

Answer 18

a = any word
S(a) = the elementary sentence in which it occurs
For “a” being meaningful:
- The empirical criteria for a are known
- It has been stipulated from what protocol sentences “S(a)” is deducible
- The Truth-conditions for “S(a)” are foxed
- The method of verification of “S(a)” is known

Question 19

Soundness

Answer 19

Does it make sense to say if it is valid. The quality of being based on valid reason or good judgement.

Question 20

Validity

Answer 20

Whether something is valid or not (True or false)

Question 21

Empirical statements

Answer 21

The decision about truth and falsehood lies in the protocol sentences.
Requirement: O’s need to be expressed in a language that is universal and intersubjective

Question 22

Tautology

Answer 22

Either it is or it is not
A ∨¬A

Question 23

Contradiction

Answer 23

It is and it is not
A ∧¬A

Question 24

Theoretical statements

Answer 24

Non-O’s.
They do not state anything we can observe.
a T-statement is only meaningful if (an) O-statement(s) follow(s) from it or from a Epistemological View: How is T to be verified?

Question 25

Singular sentences

Answer 25

Say something about one case

Question 26

General sentences

Answer 26

Say something general i.e. a population or a distinct group of things. They have various forms

Question 27

General psychological sentence

Answer 27

Example: “When, under such and such circumstances, images of such and such a sort occur to a person […], an emotion of such and such a sort always […] is aroused”

Question 28

General physical sentence

Answer 28

Example: “When a solid body is heated, it usually expands”

Question 29

Physicalism thesis

Answer 29

Physical language is a universal language and inter-subjective

Question 30

Modus ponens

Answer 30

P implies Q. P is true. Therefore, Q must also be true

Question 31

Induction problem truth table

Answer 31

T –> O , O ⊬ T
T T T T T
T F F F T
F T T T F
F F F F F

Question 32

Salve veritate

Answer 32

Saving the truth value (interchangeability)

Question 33

Reductionism (Carnap)

Answer 33

Aiming to reduce complex psychological phenomena to simpler physical terms.

Question 34

Vienna Circle

Answer 34

The philosophical circle (many were mathematicians or physicists) where Logical positivism started

Question 35

Hypothetico-deductive method

Answer 35

The procedure for developing scientific laws.
Starts with a hypothesis which can then be falsified (or verified according to logical positivist)

Question 36

Modal logics

Answer 36

A variety of logics to handle counterfactual claims. Contain operators that specify what is possible or what is necessary

Question 37

Raven paradox

Answer 37

Challenge the assumption that confirming evidence should strengthen our belief in particular hypotheses
R→B⊢¬B→¬R
Everything that is not black and not a raven is evidence that ravens are black

Question 38

Theory reduction

Answer 38

The process of unifying science by deriving the principles of one science from those to another
It assumes that science is basically a cumulative enterprise
It views the laws of specialized disciplines as derivative laws which, in principle, can be derived from the most basic laws of physics

Question 39

Major premise

Answer 39

O
Provides the logical structure and theoretical foundation

Question 40

Hypostatistation

Answer 40

Assumes a parallel entity where the essence of the things are there. There is no empirical way to test it