Language, Truth and Logic (Dover Books on Western Philosophy) 2nd Edition by Alfred Jules Ayer (PDF)

Description

A delightful book … I should like to have written it myself. — Bertrand RussellFirst published in 1936, this first full-length presentation in English of the Logical Positivism of Carnap, Neurath, and others has gone through many printings to become a classic of thought and communication. It not only surveys one of the most important areas of modern thought; it also shows the confusion that arises from imperfect understanding of the uses of language. A first-rate antidote for fuzzy thought and muddled writing, this remarkable book has helped philosophers, writers, speakers, teachers, students, and general readers alike.Mr. Ayers sets up specific tests by which you can easily evaluate statements of ideas. You will also learn how to distinguish ideas that cannot be verified by experience — those expressing religious, moral, or aesthetic experience, those expounding theological or metaphysical doctrine, and those dealing with a priori truth. The basic thesis of this work is that philosophy should not squander its energies upon the unknowable, but should perform its proper function in criticism and analysis.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐There is no better single source of doing philosophy via the logical positivism method than by reading this book. It’s really two books in one. The Introduction is a rather thorough reply to his critics of the book’s original lengthier substance, and if nothing else is read, the Introduction provides an excellent example of what logical positivism is, why it is regarded highly or poorly depending on the reader, and why some people think this kind of analysis defeats the whole purpose of philosophy. The book does try to end metaphysics as we know it, but in the course of establishing new principles (i.e., verifiability), it itself becomes indefensible against the accusation of itself relying on its own premises to prove its own conclusions (a charge Ayer coyly ignores), otherwise known as circularity.The fact that many Anglo-American philosophers still do philosophy in this manner — after Ayer’s style — is reason alone to study this book thoroughly. It is concisely written, clear and unambiguious (if not a tad bit too analytical), and exemplary of Anglo-American style of doing philosophy. I don’t think too many philosophers subscribe to its own circular metaphysics, but many, if not most, current philosophers adopt its principles as a “method” — something which Ayer later (in “The Meaning of Life”) claims was his aim all along.What is disappointing to me, at least in the body of Ayer’s works read thus far, is his failure to address “verifiability” in light of Popper’s “falsification” doctrine. What exactly constitutes “verifiability” or empirical truth? And, how does the verification of empirical truth differ from the “empirical falsification” of Popper? Perhaps Ayer addresses this problem somewhere, but I’ve not found it. It would be an interesting problem to see solved.

⭐see above

⭐Language, Truth and Logic is an audacious book, written when Ayer was 26. It is not the sort of book that would be written by a philosopher at 56 or even 36. But at 26 you can still convince yourself that your position is right even as all of the great philosophers of history are wrong (or at least mislead and mistaken). This is the theme and tone of Ayer’s audacious book. The appeal of the book to undergraduates is great. I use it at the very beginning of a course I teach in the history Analytic Movement in philosophy, and it is a good beginning for that study. I would recommend it to anyone with even a casual interest in Twentieth Century Philosophy.

⭐This a wonderful book, personally I had to read it Around 3 times to kind of comprehend it. It is a lot to take in, but eye opening and a most efficient way to put into words the thoughts that were always bugging me about the function of language it’s limitations and our idea of true.

⭐This is a good initial read for those who would like to understand the philosophical position of the logical positivists. Ayer’s writing is clear and thorough and interesting.

⭐While logical positivism has died out, but the questions it raised are still puzzling. The attack on aesthetics, ethics and theology, claiming them as senseless is radical but thought provoking.

⭐This book looks at logic from a positivist/sensical perspective as regards the usefulness of a given proposition. It’s explanation of the role of intuition in establishing knowledge is clumsy. It’s take on as regards spiritual cognition is rather sparse and dismissive as declaring it to be non-sensical (i.e. non-testable/verifiable) and thus not useful is establishing knowledge.

⭐I’ll give 5 stars to any book that profoundly changes the way I think, and this one did.For one, I interpret the “meaningfulness” of statements differently now. I believe that a lot of what people say, myself included, is “literally senseless.”I’m just a casual philosopher, and I know Ayer’s ideas were disputed and refuted, but I think they have some value. How much, I cannot say. It’s a fun book to read casually and feel all philosophically cocky, because that’s the way it seems to be written: arrogantly yet audaciously.

⭐There are many valid criticisms that can be made of Ayer’s attack on metaphysics and the book is now 80 or so years old, but I still think this is a brilliant book. It is written with an unusual amount of energy for a philosophical text, and at times you can almost feel the angry passion of a young man with a clear vision of what is wrong and how it should be put right. I think this is worth reading for at least a couple of reasons. Firstly, as philosophy books go, it is very clear and enjoyable. Secondly, although philosophy has advanced and rejected some of his key ideas, understanding what has come since is a lot easier if you understand what Ayer said.

⭐I was pleased to have bought this book and have started reading it.It covers an important part of the recent history of academic Western Philosophy. However in 1970 the author more or less said that so-called Logical Positivism or Logical Emipricism was no longer valid.

⭐Philosophers know that the thesis presented here is as dead as a dinosaur but this book should not just be read out of historical interest, the remnants that can be salvaged provide the groundwork for our modern philosophical framework.Things of interest: Analyticity, Ignosticism, Descriptivism, Verificationism and a pro-scientific/anti-metaphysical outlook.I think the weakest part of the book above anything else is on Ethics so go and read Kant afterwords to make up for it.

⭐This was originally published in 1936. It was the first presentation in English of Logical Positivism developed by the Vienna School. It shows how to apply analytical techniques to analyse issues and minimise the confusion that can arise through the misuse of langauge. It is very clearly written and Bertrand Russell commented “A delightful book…I would like to have written it myself.”

⭐Should be 5 stars really as one of the most important works of modern philiosophy. However the prose now – almost 50 years since I first read it – seems clumsy.

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