Sir Alfred Jules Ayer Quotes

A collection of quotes by Sir Alfred Jules Ayer.

Sir Alfred Jules Ayer (1910-1989) was a renowned British philosopher and a leading figure in the field of logical positivism. Born on October 29, 1910, in London, Ayer developed a deep interest in philosophy from an early age. He studied at Oxford University, where he was greatly influenced by the works of logical positivists such as Rudolf Carnap and A.J. Ayer's most notable contribution to philosophy was his influential book Language, Truth, and Logic, first published in 1936 when he was only 25 years old. In this work, Ayer attempted to dissolve traditional philosophical problems by arguing that the propositions of metaphysics, theology, and ethics were, in fact, "meaningless," as they couldn't be empirically verified.

Ayer's logical positivist approach drew both admiration and criticism from scholars across the globe. While some acclaimed his work for its clarity and rigor, others raised substantial objections. Nonetheless, Ayer's influence on the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind cannot be overstated.

Throughout his career, Ayer held teaching positions at various prestigious institutions, including Oxford, London School of Economics, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Furthermore, he played an active role in public debates on philosophy, ethics, and political matters. Ayer was knighted in 1970 for his significant contributions to philosophy and was a Fellow of the British Academy.

Sir Alfred Jules Ayer passed away on June 27, 1989, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the field of analytic philosophy.

While moral rules may be propounded by authority the fact th

While moral rules may be propounded by authority the fact that these were so propounded would not validate them.

Sir Alfred Jules Ayer

Morals

To say that authority, whether secular or religious, supplie

To say that authority, whether secular or religious, supplies no ground for morality is not to deny the obvious fact that it supplies a sanction.

Sir Alfred Jules Ayer

Control

There never comes a point where a theory can be said to be t

There never comes a point where a theory can be said to be true. The most that one can claim for any theory is that it has shared the successes of all its rivals and that it has passed at least one test which they have failed.

Sir Alfred Jules Ayer

Assumptions

The traditional disputes of philosophers are, for the most p

The traditional disputes of philosophers are, for the most part, as unwarranted as they are unfruitful.

Sir Alfred Jules Ayer

Philosophy