Philosophy A-Level
The Verification Principle
What The Verification Principle means in Philosophy A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of The Verification Principle
The logical positivist criterion, primarily associated with the Vienna Circle, asserting that a statement is only meaningful if it is a tautology or empirically verifiable in principle.
Topics that use The Verification Principle
- Metaphysics of God (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- A Priori vs A Posteriori Proofs
- Cognitivism vs. Non-cognitivism
- Rationalism vs Empiricism
- The Coherence of the Divine Attributes
- The Falsification Debate
- The Nature of Necessity
- Theodicy and the Challenge of Evil
- Theodicy and the Problem of Evil
Using The Verification Principle in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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