Logical Positivism

By: Ayer, A. J.

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0029011302
• ISBN13: 9780029011300
• Release Date: January 1966
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

A great place to start with logical postivism

This book is an anthology of texts by several authors of logical postivism. It has to be noted that the editor himself, A.J. Ayer, is a main figure in the contemporary philosophical movement known logical positivism or logical empiricism. Although the hisotrical introduction is very brief, the selection is extremly good and gives a thorough picture of the movement. Ayer also considers important to include some texts regarded as analytic philosophy but not universaly considered to be "logical postivism" (Ayer does). One may find, among such authors, Russell and Austin. These texts are indeed welcomed, but do not take for granted that these authors match completely the positivist program, or that this book will give you a general idea of analytic philosophy. It is worth to mention that although (the first) Wittgenstein was close for a while to the Vienna Circle and is considered by many a logical postivist, no text written by him is included. The editor considers impossible to do justice to Wittgenstein with an excerpt from his only two books. However, if you're interested in Wittgenstein some articles fromt his anthology might be helpful to understand the theory forwarded in the Tractatus. Some texts are more programatic than academic, and even the academic texts include a good deal of a general account or a defense of logical positvism; which makes this book very useful for for someone who is just beginning to study logical postivism (Which was my case, as a graduate student). Also, many articles make use of symbolic logic, but it should be noted that it is for breif moments and that they are still understandable if one is unable to make sense of these logic parts. The articles tend to be brief, which also makes this book good for a teacher looking for reading material to include in a syllabus.

Important and interesting articles

This book is a good set of articles of the members of logical positivism. Ayer is only the editor and the writer of the introduction. People interrested in logical positivism should find this interresting. Also people interrested in philosophy of science. Do not expect a long history or description of logical positivism in this book!