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Given Quote by A.J. Ayer

“We say that 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.” quote by A.J. Ayer — Download Open image

“We say that 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.”

About This Quote

Source Philosophy: Language, Truth and Logic, 1936

Truth depends on personal verification; knowledge is personal and subjective.

In simple terms: Truth is personal verification.

Key Takeaway

Seek evidence before accepting claims.

Themes

knowledge verification truth subjectivity philosophy logic

Mood

analytical critical

Type

philosophical academic

When to use this quote

academic debate
media consumption
legal testimony

Key Concepts

epistemology skepticism proposition

Questions to Reflect On

What counts as reliable verification?
How do you handle unverifiable statements?

A Different Perspective

Verification may be impossible for some claims.

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Factually Significant Given Ifs Ifs and Know how Knows Knows Verify Persons Propositions Sentence Factually Sentences Significant Significant Given Verify Verify Proposition

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