Verification Principle

Question 1

Verification definition

Answer 1

Statements are only meaningful if they are true by definition or empirically verifiable.
Analytic or synthetic

It is cognitive

Question 2

Who is aj ayer

Answer 2

-British Atheist Philosopher (1910 - 1989).
-Empiricist, Emotivist and Logical Positivist.

Question 3

Aj ayer quote

Answer 3

‘No sentence which purports to describe the nature of a transcendent God can possess any literal significance
(AJ Ayer).

Question 4

What is logical positivism

Answer 4

-Originated from the Vienna Circle in early 20th century.
-All meaningful statements are verifiable, they are analytic or synthetic
-central rule is verification principle

Question 5

What is the implication of this for language about God? E.g. ‘God exists’.

Answer 5

Ayer believed such statements are neither true by definition (analytic) nor empirically verifiable (synthetic) , even in principle. He believed there could be no empirical proof of a transcendent God. Consequently, he declares, the phrase ‘God exists’ is literally meaningless and can be neither true nor false. It is ‘nonsensical’.

Question 6

John Hicks response to verification eschatological argument

Answer 6

• The Celestial City represents Heaven.

• Hick is arguing religious statements are verifiable / falsifiable - after death.

• The original Verification Principle is too rigid/narrow and too quick to dismiss religious statements.

• Believing in God is a view and commitment that influences everything and is meaningful in a Believer’s life.

-Their religious statements WILL be verified / falsified after death.
• Because of the prospect of eschatological verification, religious statements can be considered meaningful when they are made during this lifetime. These statements having meaning for religious believers.