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In This Paper, First I Am Going To Introduce The Criterion

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In this paper, first I am going to introduce the criterion of verifiability. With the help of the criterion of verifiability, Ayer is able to test whether any sentence has factual significance or not. He then concludes that metaphysical propositions lack factual significance because they fail to satisfy even the weaker sense of verifiability in principle. Ayer proceeds to argue that metaphysical propositions are nonsensical since they neither have factual significance nor belong to the category of a priori propositions. This argument is mainly successful as to eliminate metaphysics from sensible knowledge, except there are two parts susceptible to attack. One may argue that the process of applying the criterion of verifiability to …show more content…

As philosophers, we are most interested in sentences with factual significance because we are after genuine knowledge that concerns matters of fact. The criterion of verifiability is formulated to test whether a sentence is factually significant or not. Defined by Ayer, “a sentence is factually significant to any given person if, and only if, he knows how to verify the proposition which it purports to express.” (Language, Truth, and Logic; Ayer, 6) For empiricists like Ayer, it is accepted that empirical evidence is the first source of genuine knowledge we have about the real world. It naturally follows that when empiricists verify a proposition, they make relevant observations and set up experimentations that will help them accept or reject the proposition. I agree with Ayer because I find there is nothing more genuine than senses I experience; and I am not obliged to make sense out of nonsensical things.
We encounter factually significant propositions everywhere. For instance, “Bruce is a student from UCLA.” This proposition is factually significant because we can verify it by calling the registration office.
However, there is the proposition that has no factual content. Therefore, its truth value is independent of empirical evidence. This proposition is “of such a character that the assumption of its truth, or falsehood, is consistent with any assumption whatsoever concerning the nature of his future experience …” (Language, Truth, and Logic;

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