Proposition……..any statement that can be asserted or denied (i.e. said to be true
or false)
Examples of propositions
Snow is white
Examples of propositions
Mr McGhan looks cool in goggles
Examples of propositions
Pigs have wings
Examples of propositions
Norwegian men are very sensitive and understanding
School sucks
Examples of propositions
4 kinds of propositions
1. Analytic propositions
Propositions that can be shown to be true just by analyzing (thinking about) them.
1. Analytic propositions - 2 types
Definitional truths;
All bachelors
are unmarried men
1. Analytic propositions – 2 types
Truths of reason; If Eirik is taller than Meaghan, and Magnus is taller than Eirik, Magnus must be taller than Meaghan
2. Empirical Propositions
Their truth can be determined by appeal to evidence based on perception
2. Empirical Propositions
Pandas eat bamboo
2. Empirical Propositions
Smoking can damage your health
2. Empirical Propositions
Hitler was a woman
3. Value judgments
A statement that contains a value word such as “good”, “bad”, “right”, “wrong”, “beautiful”, “ugly”……..
3. Value judgments
Harder to establish the truth as two people may have different values
3. Value judgments
Kirsten Dunst is beautiful
3. Value judgments
Simon is the World’s best TOK teacher
3. Value judgments
Rap isn’t good music
4. Metaphysical propositions
Neither analytic, empirical nor value judgment. This leaves statements about the nature of ultimate reality
4. Metaphysical propositions
God exists
4. Metaphysical propositions
Free will is an illusion
4. Metaphysical propositions
The past does not exist
Importance of knowing which type of proposition
Because all 4 types can be justified in different ways, it is important to know which type of proposition we are dealing with when looking at a knowledge claim
State whether the following propositions are analytic,