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Carnap Visits Canberra: Updating the Logical Positivist Criteria of Cognitive Significance

Magrath, Andrew Whiteley
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1333760010

Abstract Details

2012, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Philosophy.
In "The Elimination of Metaphysics Through Logical Analysis of Language" Rudolf Carnap asserts that for a term, 'a', to be meaningful it must meet four criteria of cognitive significance: (C1) The empirical criteria for 'a' are known. (C2) It has been stipulated from what protocol sentences 'S(a)' is deducible. (C3) The truth-conditions for 'S(a)' are fixed. (C4) The method of verification of 'S(a)' is known. I will demonstrate that C2 and C4 are problematic to Carnap's project. Yet, Carnap's criteria of cognitive significance are not without theoretical and practical merit; I assert that C1 and C3 remain on firm philosophical ground. In order to update the criteria and solve the problems that C2 and C4 create, I propose introducing aspects of the Canberra Plan into Carnap's original criteria of cognitive significance. I propose that step-one of the Canberra Plan (gathering of platitudes and conceptual analysis) can replace Carnap's original C2, and step-two of the Canberra Plan (location) can replace Carnap's original C4. As a corollary, I demonstrate that this Canberra Plan inspired criteria of cognitive significance is able to solve Braddon-Mitchell's theoretical-real disposition critique of the Canberra Plan. I assert that the combination of Carnap's original project and the Canberra Plan creates a new theory of cognitive significance that preserves many of the strengths of Carnap's original project, but also avoids the pitfalls.
Deborah Smith, PhD (Committee Chair)
Gene Pendleton, PhD (Committee Member)
Kwang-Sae Lee, PhD (Committee Member)
Robert Twieg, PhD (Committee Member)
Philosophy
Canberra Plan; Logical Positivism; Logical Empiricism; Cognitive Significance; Theory of Meaning; Rudolf Carnap; David Lewis; Frank Jackson; David Braddon-Mitchell; Frank Ramsey; Ramsification

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Magrath, A. W. (2012). Carnap Visits Canberra: Updating the Logical Positivist Criteria of Cognitive Significance [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1333760010

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Magrath, Andrew. Carnap Visits Canberra: Updating the Logical Positivist Criteria of Cognitive Significance. 2012. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1333760010.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Magrath, Andrew. "Carnap Visits Canberra: Updating the Logical Positivist Criteria of Cognitive Significance." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1333760010

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.