CHAPTER 1 LOGICAL EMPIRICISM :
LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS, LOGICAL SYMBOLISM AND EMPIRICISM
Thinking clearly and learning from experience: the beginning of our new world
(1) Which method of enquiry in philosophy is concerned with finding the exact meaning of
words?
(2) Who were the most popular exponents of linguistic analysis?
(3) Which philosophy claims that if we fail to solve a problem, no matter how hard we try, we
are dealing with a meaningless set of words?
(4) On whose thinking was linguistic analysis based?
(5) What did Russell and Ayer focus on in their work?
(6) Who moved away from supporting linguistic analysis because of his experiences in
World War I?
(7) What can linguistic analysis help us to do?
(8) What can linguistic analysis not help us with?
(9) On what else did the philosophical movement that focused on linguistic analysis focus?
(10) What is the aim of logic in philosophy?
(11) Which method of enquiry in philosophy maintains that experience gives us our most
reliable form of knowledge?
(12) On which method of enquiry in philosophy is modern science based?
(13) What can empiricism help us to do?
(14) What are the failings of empiricism?
(15) What would be the consequences for us if we ignored empiricism as a method of
enquiry?
(16) Which philosophy did linguistic analysis, logical symbolism and empiricism together
form?
(17) What is logical empiricism also known as?
Chapter 1: Thinking clearly and learning from experience: the beginning of our new world
1. Linguistic analysis
2. Bertrand Russell and AJ Ayer
3. Linguistic analysis
4. Ludwig Wittgenstein and Bertrand Russell
5. Logic, linguistic meaning and verifiable facts
6. Ludwig Wittgenstein
7. Think more clearly; be precise in what we mean; spot hidden assumptions in arguments; be
aware of manipulation and dishonesty in all forms of propaganda, including the mass media
8. Moral problems; life choices; facing our own mortality; seeing the people we love suffer; our own
suffering
9. Logic
10. To get to what is called the” bare bones of the truth”
11. Empiricism
, 12. Empiricism
13. Understand how our physical world works; test the truth of certain claims; refute what is false;
respect the natural laws of the universe; learn from experience
14. It places too much emphasis on science; it ignores human values; it views human beings as
machines; it tends to ignore anything that cannot be explained scientifically; it confines truth to
that which can be experienced through the senses.
15. We will fail to learn from our experiences. As a result, we will be vulnerable to anything that is
false. We could even be seriously injured if we do not observe the laws of science, e.g. the law of
gravity.
16. Logical empiricism
17. Logical positivism
CHAPTER 2: Asking questions: challenging what the world tells us CRITICAL RATIONALISM
(1) What do we call the method of enquiry in philosophy that is concerned with “questioning
and open-mindedness”?
(2) Name four theorists who promoted critical rationalism.
(3) Describe five characteristics that identify critical rationalists.
(4) What does critical rationalism help us to do?
(5) What can critical rationalism not help us with?
(6) In trying to establish the truth, what does
empiricism focus on?
critical rationalism focus on?
(7) From which ancient philosophy did critical rationalism originate?
(8) What would the consequences for us be if we ignored critical rationalism as a method of
enquiry in philosophy?
(9) Name the types of false argument, explain them, and give an example of each.
CHAPTER 2: Asking questions: challenging what the world tells us
1. Critical rationalism
2. Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, Karl Popper, Godwin Sogolo, Helen Suzman, Hannah Arendt
and Nelson Mandela
3. Critical rationalists are objective; question what they are told; are open-minded; avoid falsity; and
are anti-dogmatic and anti-authoritarian.
4. Critical rationalism can help us to question what people in authority tell us; be more open to what
other people think; examine our own opinions carefully; be more tolerant and understanding; and
solve problems.
5. Critical rationalism cannot help us to make quick decisions; find the meaning in life; deal with
people who are dishonest; or solve the problem of suffering. It can elicit feelings of insecurity.
6. Empiricism focuses on finding the truth through facts using their sense experience. Critical
rationalism focuses on avoiding falsity in trying to establish the truth.
7. Greek philosophy
8. If we ignored critical rationalism, we would be gullible; manipulated by others; and do real harm to
others and ourselves because we fail to question what those in authority tell us.
LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS, LOGICAL SYMBOLISM AND EMPIRICISM
Thinking clearly and learning from experience: the beginning of our new world
(1) Which method of enquiry in philosophy is concerned with finding the exact meaning of
words?
(2) Who were the most popular exponents of linguistic analysis?
(3) Which philosophy claims that if we fail to solve a problem, no matter how hard we try, we
are dealing with a meaningless set of words?
(4) On whose thinking was linguistic analysis based?
(5) What did Russell and Ayer focus on in their work?
(6) Who moved away from supporting linguistic analysis because of his experiences in
World War I?
(7) What can linguistic analysis help us to do?
(8) What can linguistic analysis not help us with?
(9) On what else did the philosophical movement that focused on linguistic analysis focus?
(10) What is the aim of logic in philosophy?
(11) Which method of enquiry in philosophy maintains that experience gives us our most
reliable form of knowledge?
(12) On which method of enquiry in philosophy is modern science based?
(13) What can empiricism help us to do?
(14) What are the failings of empiricism?
(15) What would be the consequences for us if we ignored empiricism as a method of
enquiry?
(16) Which philosophy did linguistic analysis, logical symbolism and empiricism together
form?
(17) What is logical empiricism also known as?
Chapter 1: Thinking clearly and learning from experience: the beginning of our new world
1. Linguistic analysis
2. Bertrand Russell and AJ Ayer
3. Linguistic analysis
4. Ludwig Wittgenstein and Bertrand Russell
5. Logic, linguistic meaning and verifiable facts
6. Ludwig Wittgenstein
7. Think more clearly; be precise in what we mean; spot hidden assumptions in arguments; be
aware of manipulation and dishonesty in all forms of propaganda, including the mass media
8. Moral problems; life choices; facing our own mortality; seeing the people we love suffer; our own
suffering
9. Logic
10. To get to what is called the” bare bones of the truth”
11. Empiricism
, 12. Empiricism
13. Understand how our physical world works; test the truth of certain claims; refute what is false;
respect the natural laws of the universe; learn from experience
14. It places too much emphasis on science; it ignores human values; it views human beings as
machines; it tends to ignore anything that cannot be explained scientifically; it confines truth to
that which can be experienced through the senses.
15. We will fail to learn from our experiences. As a result, we will be vulnerable to anything that is
false. We could even be seriously injured if we do not observe the laws of science, e.g. the law of
gravity.
16. Logical empiricism
17. Logical positivism
CHAPTER 2: Asking questions: challenging what the world tells us CRITICAL RATIONALISM
(1) What do we call the method of enquiry in philosophy that is concerned with “questioning
and open-mindedness”?
(2) Name four theorists who promoted critical rationalism.
(3) Describe five characteristics that identify critical rationalists.
(4) What does critical rationalism help us to do?
(5) What can critical rationalism not help us with?
(6) In trying to establish the truth, what does
empiricism focus on?
critical rationalism focus on?
(7) From which ancient philosophy did critical rationalism originate?
(8) What would the consequences for us be if we ignored critical rationalism as a method of
enquiry in philosophy?
(9) Name the types of false argument, explain them, and give an example of each.
CHAPTER 2: Asking questions: challenging what the world tells us
1. Critical rationalism
2. Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, Karl Popper, Godwin Sogolo, Helen Suzman, Hannah Arendt
and Nelson Mandela
3. Critical rationalists are objective; question what they are told; are open-minded; avoid falsity; and
are anti-dogmatic and anti-authoritarian.
4. Critical rationalism can help us to question what people in authority tell us; be more open to what
other people think; examine our own opinions carefully; be more tolerant and understanding; and
solve problems.
5. Critical rationalism cannot help us to make quick decisions; find the meaning in life; deal with
people who are dishonest; or solve the problem of suffering. It can elicit feelings of insecurity.
6. Empiricism focuses on finding the truth through facts using their sense experience. Critical
rationalism focuses on avoiding falsity in trying to establish the truth.
7. Greek philosophy
8. If we ignored critical rationalism, we would be gullible; manipulated by others; and do real harm to
others and ourselves because we fail to question what those in authority tell us.
