Ayer on Necessary Truth

Ayer's Analysis of Necessary Truth

• How can empiricism deal with knowledge of necessary truths?
• No knowledge attained through experience can be necessary
• Logic/mathematics - truths of mathematics certain, but empiricism implies no proposition with factual content is necessary...
• So, must deny either:

a) these truths are necessary

b) they have factual content 

Mill's denial of necessity: Mathematics as large-scale inductive generalsations. Apparent necessity a matter of degree of evidence.

Ayer - no, because mathematcal truths hold true for every conceivable instance.

He…