What is Logical Positivism?

This video lecture discusses the meaning of logical positivism.

Logical positivism is the direct result of the revision of positivism through the years. As we may already know, the positivism of Auguste Comte and Ernst Mach dealt only with phenomena that are directly observable. By the early 20th century, this position was viewed as unrealistic by many scholars. Scientists during the early 20th century had made major studies on theoretical concepts that are not directly observable, such as gravity, magnetism, atoms, force, and electrons. Hence, scholars had to find a way for science to account for these entities through the employment of a theory without running the risk of falling into the pit of metaphysical speculation. The solution to this problem was provided by logical positivism.

***

Feel free to share your thoughts in the “comments” section below, or hit the "Like" button if you find this material helpful!

Thanks! PHILO-notes

[blaisegeorges]

Excellent ! Do you know the philosophy of Withehead ?

[MrZSJR]

Excellent! What's the new interpretation of logical positivism?

[DrOwenAnderson]

What was their general critique of metaphysics?

[eddyk]

Would it be possible to give an example in very simple terms in that a lay person like me would understand?

[miguelespejel]

The empirical adequacy of a theory is a means to a further end -testing hypotheses and evaluating their degree of approximate truth-, it is not the end in itself (that is in any case, in technology, but: sciences ≠ technologies). Furthermore, it is not the only means of evaluating theories. Indeed, there are conceptual evaluative procedures such as studying the internal or external consistency of an idea, etc.Radical empiricism is far outdated. Holding it is close to pseudo-philosophy and religion.

[EternalFootman-kryx]

Logical positivism is profoundly, metaphysical

[miguelespejel]

If we have two empirically adequate theories, their conjunction can be understood as something unacceptable because it is contradictory. Putting together the physics of Newton and Einstein we get contradictions