1. Propositions Mathematics and logic are obviously closely related

2. Proposition……..any statement that can be asserted or denied (i.e. said to be true or false)

3. Examples of propositions Snow is white

4. Examples of propositions Liquid nitrogen is very cold.

5. Examples of propositions Pigs have wings

6. Examples of propositions Polish men are very sensitive and understanding

7. IB students are not very enthusiastic Examples of propositions

8. 4 kinds of propositions

9. 1. Analytic propositions (2 types) Propositions that can be shown to be true just by analyzing (thinking about) them.

10. 1. Analytic propositions- 2 types Definitional truths; All bachelors are unmarried men

11. 1. Analytic propositions – 2 types Truths of reason; If Eerik is taller than Rami, and Rami is taller than Bartosz, Eerik must be taller than Bartosz

12. 2. Empirical Propositions Their truth can be determined by appeal to evidence based on perception

13. 2. Empirical Propositions Pandas eat bamboo

14. 2. Empirical Propositions Smoking can damage your health

15. 2. Empirical Propositions Hitler was a woman

16. 3. Value judgments A statement that contains a value word such as “good”, “bad”, “right”, “wrong”, “beautiful”, “ugly”……..

17. 3. Value judgments Harder to establish the truth as two people may have different values

18. 3. Value judgments Kirsten Dunst is beautiful

19. 3. Value judgments Mr Porter is the World’s best TOK teacher

20. 3. Value judgments Rap isn’t good music

21. 4. Metaphysical propositions Neither analytic, empirical nor value judgment. This leaves statements about the nature of ultimate reality

22. 4. Metaphysical propositions God exists

23. 4. Metaphysical propositions Free will is an illusion

24. 4. Metaphysical propositions The past does not exist

25. 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

26. State whether the following propositions are analytic, empirical, value judgment or metaphysical

27. God is the creator of all things

28. Mozart was a great composer

29. Bananas are yellow

30. Smith is a courageous man

31. Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo in 1815 YouTube - Duel and duelality part2

32. You ought to eat more cabbage

33. Every event has a cause

34. A straight line is the shortest distance between two points

35. Vedran said that a telescope has two lenses

36. All mass murders are insane

37. It’s not that simple! In “real life” there are grey areas and complications

38. Factual/verbal disputes Analytical/empirical propositions What looks like a factual dispute can sometimes become a verbal dispute about the meaning of words

39. John is bald

40. Abortion is murder

41. Nelson Mandela is a terrorist

42. Nominal Fallacy Assuming we have explained something just because we have named it

43. Nominal Fallacy “Why is iron attracted to a magnet?” “Because iron is magnetic”

44. Nominal Fallacy “Why are there many tribal wars in Papua New Guinea?” “The people there are very aggressive”

45. Nominal Fallacy “Why is lead heavy” “Because it is very dense”

46. Nominal fallacy Try to spot the nominal fallacies in the following;

47. Nominal Fallacy? “What caused the baby’s death” “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome”

48. Nominal Fallacy? “Why did the water pipes burst?” “Because the temperature fell below zero(freezing), and when water freezes it expands”

49. Nominal Fallacy? “What caused the earthquake” “A sudden movement of rocks beneath the earth’s surface”

50. Nominal Fallacy? “What caused the earthquake?” “It was an act of God”

51. Nominal Fallacy? “Why does sugar dissolve in water?” “Because it is soluble”

52. Nominal Fallacy? “Why did the apple fall to the ground?” “Because of gravity”

53. Nominal Fallacy? “Why did the apple fall to the ground?” “Because of gravity”

54. Nominal Fallacy? “Why did Peter Sutcliffe murder 13 people” “Because he is insane”

55. Nominal Fallacy? “Why did the stock market fall yesterday?” “Because of a technical adjustment and profit- taking by investors”

56. Nominal Fallacy? “Why did he win the lottery?” “Because he is a lucky person”

57. Empirical propositions and value judgements

58. Many words have positive and negative connotations that can blur the distinction between a fact and a value

59. Connotations Blair is a murderer

60. Connotations Cristina is a spinster

61. Connotations Albert is brainy

62. Connotations Can you think of some propositions of your own in which an empirical proposition is turned into a value judgement by a connotation?

63. Relevant facts Some empirical facts may be relevant to the justification of value judgements

64. Relevant facts Gary is a bad man

65. Relevant facts Tiger is a good golfer

66. Relevant facts The British School is a good school

67. Empirical propositions and metaphysics

68. Some empirical facts may be relevant to the justification of our metaphysical beliefs

69. Empirical propositions and metaphysics God created the universe in six days about 6000 years ago.

70. Push hard enough! If you push an empirical proposition hard enough, it collapses into a metaphysical one. Empirical proposition

71. Push hard enough! If you push an empirical proposition hard enough, it collapses into a metaphysical one. Metaphysical proposition

72. Push hard enough! I know that my car is parked outside But how can you be sure you are not dreaming?

73. Push hard enough! I know that all metals expand when heated. But how can you be sure the laws of physics will hold tomorrow ?

74. Push hard enough! I know that World War 2 started in 1939 But how can you be sure the past really exists?

75. Fortunately we have seen that you don’t need complete certainty to say you “know” something!