Single Idea 2760

[catalogued under 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 5. Meaning as Verification]

Full Idea

The foundationalist claim that there are inferential and non-inferential justifications is mirrored by the claim of logical empiricism (the verification principle) that all significant statements are either strongly or weakly verifiable.

Gist of Idea

Logical positivism implies foundationalism, by dividing weak from strong verifications

Source

Jonathan Dancy (Intro to Contemporary Epistemology [1985], 6.2)

Book Reference

Dancy,Jonathan: 'Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology' [Blackwell 1985], p.88


A Reaction

I take it to be characteristic of both to divide the support for something into two types, one of which is basic, and the other built up on the basics. The first step is to decide what is basic.