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edited 8/26/17

Theory:

Basic Principle: All our knowledge consists of sense data acquired by observation and associated by the workings of the mind

1. Knowledge consists of data statements and theoretical statements.

2. Statements about observations are data statements.

3. All we can observe is the relative position of physical bodies.

4. Observations are restricted, that is, finite in space and time.

5. Theoretical statements are constructed through associations of data statements.

Exercise:

On the basis of the above theory classify the statements below as any of the following:

a. confirmable - an observation, or set of observations, is possible which supports it.

b. not confirmable - no set of observations is possible which can support it.

c. disconfirmable - an observation is possible which can falsify it.

d. not disconfirmable - no observation is possible which can falsify it.

1. John is on the porch.

2. John is meditating on the porch.

3. Some cows eat clover.

4. No cows eat clover.

5. Harry has a pencil.

6. Harry is writing.

7. Harry is pretending to write.

8. Harry is skilled at writing.

9. This test is biased.

10. This test is not biased.

11. Harry is an honest man.

12. John knows how to multiply.

13. Adolescents are anxious.

14. I am in pain.

15. He is in pain.

16. Two plus two equals eleven base three.

17. Sam is hungry.

18. Maseratis are good cars.

19. This exercise is boring.

20. I don't understand.

See also: Conceptual vs. Empirical -- an exercise