Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Education / Philosophy / Difference Between Positivism and Logical Positivism

Difference Between Positivism and Logical Positivism

December 7, 2016 Posted by Hasa

Key Difference – Positivism vs Logical Positivism
 

Positivism is a philosophical theory that states all positive knowledge is based on natural phenomena and their properties and relations as verified by the empirical sciences. Logical positivism is a theory that developed out of positivism, which holds that all meaningful statements are either analytic or conclusively verifiable. Thus the key difference between positivism and logical positivism is based on their history and the influence they have on each other.

What is Positivism?

Positivism is the philosophical theory that states only authentic knowledge is scientific knowledge and knowledge can only be derived from positive affirmation theories through scientific methods. Scientific methods here refers to investigating facts based on observable, measurable and empirical evidence, which can be subject to principles of reasoning and logic. Thus this theory only accepts scientifically and empirically verifiable facts as knowledge.

The doctrine of positivism was developed in the nineteenth century by the French Philosopher Auguste Comte. He stated that the world was progressing through three stages in the quest for true: theological, metaphysical and positivist. Comte was of the view that theology and metaphysics should be replaced by a hierarchy of sciences.

Positivism is similar in its outlook to scientism and is also closely connected to Naturalism, Reductionism, and Verificationism. Positivism was also later branched into different categories such as legal positivism, logical positivism, and sociological positivism.

Difference Between Positivism and Logical Positivism

August Comte

What is Logical Positivism?

Logical positivism is a theory in logic and epistemology that developed out of positivism. This theory is also known as logical empiricism. According to this theory, all human knowledge should be based on logical and scientific foundations. Thus, a statement only becomes meaningful if it is either purely formal or capable of empirical verification. Many logical positivists completely reject metaphysics on the basis that it is unverifiable. Most early logical positivists supported the verifiability criterion of meaning and believed that all knowledge is based on logical inference from simple “protocol sentences” that are grounded in observable facts. The opposition to metaphysics and verifiable criterion of meaning are major characteristics of logical positivism.

Key Difference - Positivism vs Logical Positivism

Moritz Schlick, the founding father of logical positivism

What is the difference between Positivism and Logical Positivism?

Definition: (from Merriam-Webster dictionary)

Positivism is a theory that theology and metaphysics are earlier imperfect modes of knowledge and that positive knowledge is based on natural phenomena and their properties and relations as verified by the empirical sciences.

Logical positivism is a 20th century philosophical movement holding that all meaningful statements are either analytic or conclusively verifiable or at least confirmable by observation and experiment and that metaphysical theories are therefore strictly meaningless.

History:

Positivism was developed before the 20th century.

Logical positivism was developed out of positivism ,in the 20th century.

Image Courtesy:

“Auguste Comte” By Ron Bolender (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia 

“Schlick sitting” (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

Related posts:

Positivism vs ConstructivismDifference Between Positivism and Constructivism Positivism vs Post-PositivismDifference Between Positivism and Post-Positivism Social change vs Cultural changeDifference Between Social Change and Cultural Change Difference Between Pragmatism and ProgressivismDifference Between Pragmatism and Progressivism Difference Between Worldview and IdeologyDifference Between Worldview and Ideology

Filed Under: Philosophy Tagged With: Compare Positivism and Logical Positivism, logical empiricism, Logical Positivism, Logical Positivism Characteristics, Logical Positivism Definition, positivism, Positivism and Logical Positivism Differences, Positivism Characteristics, positivism definition, Positivism vs Logical Positivism

About the Author: Hasa

Hasa is a BA graduate in the field of Humanities and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in the field of English language and literature. Her areas of interests include language, literature, linguistics and culture.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between DPI and PPI

Difference Between Samsung Wave II (2) (GT-S8530) and Apple iPhone 4

Difference Between Actinomycosis and Actinobacillosis

Difference Between Actinomycosis and Actinobacillosis

Difference Between PADI and SSI

Difference Between Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and .NET Framework 4.0

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Foundation and BB Cream
  • What is the Difference Between Cybrids and Hybrids
  • What is the Difference Between Hapten and Adjuvant
  • What is the Difference Between Omphalocele and Gastroschisis
  • What is the Difference Between Autonomic and Somatic Reflexes
  • What is the Difference Between Plagiocephaly and Craniosynostosis
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.