A. J. Ayer: Language, Truth, and Logic

question 27

Multiple Choice

A. J. Ayer: Language, Truth, And Logic
Ayer's logical positivism motivates his view on ethics, an empiricist approach to philosophy that was prevalent during the first half of the 20th century. Logical positivists thought that all significant statements could be divided into analytic and synthetic propositions. Analytic propositions are true (or false) solely in virtue of the meanings of the terms involved (e.g., "All bachelors are unmarried") . All propositions that are not analytic are synthetic. According to logical positivists, all synthetic statements are empirical hypotheses; that is, claims about actual or possible experiences. If a statement is neither analytic nor an empirical hypothesis, logical positivists maintain that it is meaningless.
Ayer considers several influential ethical theories: subjectivism, utilitarianism, and "absolutism" (the intuitionism of philosophers like Moore and Ross) . Against subjectivism, Ayer claims that it would not be self-contradictory to say that some actions that are approved of are not right. Similarly, Ayer argues against utilitarianism by claiming that it is not contradictory to claim that it is sometimes wrong to do an action that would cause the greatest happiness. Ayer objects to absolutism on the grounds that it makes ethical claims empirically unverifiable, as different people have different intuitions about which acts are right or wrong. In light of this, Ayer claims that ethical statements are literally meaningless: They do not assert genuine propositions and are neither true nor false. Instead, that ethical statements serve the function of expressing our emotions, and of arousing similar feelings in others. Because on this view there is no truth in ethics, Ayer contends that it is impossible to argue about questions of value. We can try to persuade people to share our emotional reactions to things, but we cannot prove that our values are uniquely correct. Rather, "argument is possible on moral questions only if some system of values is presupposed."
-According to Ayer, ethical philosophy consists of:

• A) definitions of ethical terms.
• B) propositions describing the phenomena of moral experience.
• C) exhortations to moral virtue.
• D) all of the above.

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Definitions:

Capital Gains

Profit realized from the sale of assets like stocks, bonds, or real estate when the selling price exceeds the purchasing price.

Marginal Tax Rates

The rate at which the last dollar of income is taxed, indicating the rate of tax applied to your next dollar of income.

Net Capital Spending

The total expenditure on fixed assets minus the income from the sale of disused or scrapped assets.

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The total amount of taxes due within a specific period, encompassing federal, state, local, and other taxes applicable to an individual or business.