Single Idea 5204

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 8. A Priori as Analytic]

Full Idea

To say that a proposition is true a priori is to say that it is a tautology.

Gist of Idea

To say that a proposition is true a priori is to say that it is a tautology

Source

A.J. Ayer (Language,Truth and Logic [1936], Ch.4)

Book Reference

Ayer,A.J.: 'Language, Truth and Logic' [Penguin 1974], p.115


A Reaction

This is Ayer's splendidly clearcut anti-rationalism. However, one might concede that one cannot know a priori about remote possible worlds (though I'm not so sure), but still claim a priori extrapolations from our current experiences.