Week 3: Kind's of Truth - Analytic, A - priori

Question 1

Analytic truth

Answer 1

A truth guaranteed by the meaning of the words used to state them, such as “Triangles have three sides.”

Question 2

Synthetic truth

Answer 2

A truth not guaranteed by the meaning of the words used to state them, such as “Vixens eat mice.”

Question 3

Official Criterion for analyticity

Answer 3

A statement is analytic iff any perfectly rational subject who understands it accepts it, and a person understands a statement iff they are a competent user of the words in the statement (e.g., a native speaker).

Question 4

A priori truth

Answer 4

A statement whose truth can be known prior to experience of the facts, such as in logic or math.

Question 5

A posteriori truth

Answer 5

A statement whose truth cannot be known prior to experience and must be discovered through empirical means.

Question 6

Official Criterion for a priori

Answer 6

A statement is a priori iff a perfectly rational creature with no experience at all but with relevant concepts “implemented” in their mind could know that it is true. Analytic statements are a priori.