Single Idea 4729

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 1. Empiricism]

Full Idea

Ayer's gives an account of the a priori (as analytic) that readily meshes with empiricism, and empiricism had long been lacking an adequate account of the a priori

Gist of Idea

Empiricism lacked a decent account of the a priori, until Ayer said it was entirely analytic

Source

comment on A.J. Ayer (Language,Truth and Logic [1936]) by Paul O'Grady - Relativism Ch.4

Book Reference

O'Grady,Paul: 'Relativism' [Acumen 2002], p.123


A Reaction

Ayer's logical positivist view was based on Hume's 'relations of ideas', as opposed to 'matters of fact'. Personally I see no reason why some facts about reality shouldn't be self-evident to thought, just as others are self-evident to the senses.