Demarcation of science: Logical positivism Flashcards
Verification principle
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)
Scientific language
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
Protocol sentences
Observation sentences (O)
Atomic propositions X is Y
Theory of meaning
Logical positivism is not a theory of science theory but more a theory of meaning
Quine-Duhem’s thesis
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
Meaninglessness
Statements that cannot be proven true or false
Intersubjective
Shared by more than one conscious mind
Induction
Passing from singular statements to universal statements
Induction problem
We cannot prove by induction, i.e. truth of conclusion doesn’t follow from truth of premises
Pseudo-statement
Statement with pseudowords in them
Statement with ill-formed syntax
Thesis of epistemological physicalism
The physical language is universal and intersubjective.
“psychology […] may formulate its sentences as it pleases—these sentences will […] be translatable into physical language”
Metaphysical statements (seen from logical positivism)
Logical positivism is against metaphysics because it views metaphysical statements as meaningless, unempirical, and speculative
Pragmatism
An approach that evaluates theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application.
Realism
An external reality that our theories aim to describe, though our understanding is always mediated by our conceptual frameworks
Elementary sentence (S)
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?
Concept of hypostatisation
Regarding something abstract as a material thing
Significance
The original meaning of a word
Meaningful statement
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
Soundness
Does it make sense to say if it is valid. The quality of being based on valid reason or good judgement.
Validity
Whether something is valid or not (True or false)
Empirical statements
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
Tautology
Either it is or it is not
A ∨¬A
Contradiction
It is and it is not
A ∧¬A
Theoretical statements
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?
Singular sentences
Say something about one case
General sentences
Say something general i.e. a population or a distinct group of things. They have various forms
General psychological sentence
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”
General physical sentence
Example: “When a solid body is heated, it usually expands”
Physicalism thesis
Physical language is a universal language and inter-subjective
Modus ponens
P implies Q. P is true. Therefore, Q must also be true
Induction problem truth table
T –> O , O ⊬ T
T T T T T
T F F F T
F T T T F
F F F F F
Salve veritate
Saving the truth value (interchangeability)
Reductionism (Carnap)
Aiming to reduce complex psychological phenomena to simpler physical terms.
Vienna Circle
The philosophical circle (many were mathematicians or physicists) where Logical positivism started
Hypothetico-deductive method
The procedure for developing scientific laws.
Starts with a hypothesis which can then be falsified (or verified according to logical positivist)
Modal logics
A variety of logics to handle counterfactual claims. Contain operators that specify what is possible or what is necessary
Raven paradox
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
Theory reduction
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
Major premise
O
Provides the logical structure and theoretical foundation
Hypostatistation
Assumes a parallel entity where the essence of the things are there. There is no empirical way to test it
