Modern Western Philosophy Logical Positivism for NET, IAS, State-SET (KSET, WBSET, MPSET, etc.), GATE, CUET, Olympiads etc.

Get unlimited access to the best preparation resource for competitive exams : get questions, notes, tests, video lectures and more- for all subjects of your exam.

Complete Video at - Modern Western Philosophy - Logical Positivism & Principle Verification (Philosophy)

Logical Positivism

  • Logical Positivism is the method of philosophy which believes in Empiricism.
  • As a result, it is also called Logical Empiricism and Verification-ism.
  • Empiricism is the branch of philosophy which believes that knowledge is possible only via sense-experience.
  • AJ. Ayer, Wittgenstein and Rudolf Carnap are some of the significant logical positivists.
  • They are also known to be the members of the Vienna Circle.
  • For logic positivists the theory of verifiability of the meaning is significant most.
  • According to them, only the statements that can be directly verified through empiricism/logical proof are meaningful.
  • It is also referred to as the verification principle. It is regarded as an important doctrine of logical positivists without which the doctrine would cease to exist.

Complete notes and preparation module at doorsteptutor. com

Members of the Vienna Circle

Illustration: Members of the Vienna Circle
  • Rudolf Carnap
  • Ludwig Wittgenstein
  • Alfred J. Ayer
  • Carl G. Hempel
  • Herbert Feigl
  • Moritz Schlick
  • Otto Neurath
  • Hans Reinchenbach

Positivism and Logical Positivism

Illustration: Positivism and Logical Positivism

The Verification Principle

  • The verification principle signifies a particular statement which is verified.
  • It determines that whether the particular statement is regarded as true or false.
  • It is through this principle, we come to know whether the statement is true or false, in case the statement is neither true nor false, then it becomes meaningless.
  • According to them, the method lies in its verification experience.
  • Logical Positivists believe that metaphysics has no meaning.
  • They say metaphysical statements are meaning-less because they cannot be proved through logical proof.
  • According to them, metaphysics is thus regarded as a “pseudo-concept” that deals with, “pseudo-statements” .

Rejection of Metaphysics

  • Logical Positivists reject the branch of philosophy named, metaphysics. According to them, there are numerous reasons to reject the branch of metaphysics. Some of them are;
  • According to Wittgenstein, metaphysics is a pseudo-concept because it lacks objective reference and assertions.
  • It is also rejected because it lacks the principle of verifiability.
  • Similarly, Rudolf Carnap rejects the branch of metaphysics and says that metaphysical statements are devoid of sense and meaning.
  • In other words, according to him, metaphysical statements are sterile in nature.
  • Although, metaphysical statements follow the rules of syntax, yet, they are regarded as meaningless and senseless in nature because they are neither true nor false.
  • On the other hand, A. J Ayer makes a distinction between metaphysics and philosophy.
  • He believes, philosophy and science are commonly linked together because philosophy is dependent upon science for its principles and hypothesis.
  • The purpose of philosophy is to define and clarify the concepts, those concepts are used in science too.
  • He says metaphysics has no relation with philosophy. Metaphysical statements are not verifiable scientifically.
  • Hence, he rejects the branch of metaphysics and says that philosophy and metaphysics are mutually exclusive in nature

The Scientific Process

Observation:

  • it deals with data gathering or facts finding.

Generalisation:

  • it deals with formulation laws. It is also called Induction.

Verification:

  • it deals with findings and searching for new facts or information.

Explanation:

  • it deals with subsuming new facts. It is also called Deduction.

#Logical

#Positivism

#Vienna

#Circle

#Wittgenstein

#Ayer

#Carnap

#Verification

#Meaning

Manishika