ABSTRACT

The words "empiricism," "pragmatism," "operationalism," "logical positivism," and so forth, designate various related epistemologies and methodologies that made their appearance before the advent of quantum physics. Logical positivism asserted that statements should be verifiable. Operationalism extended these views also to the concepts used in formulating such statements. The differences in the two definitions of objectivity can, in a sense, be considered as merely underlining a difference of emphasis between two methodological approaches. The chapter helps to use the expression "purely linguistic standpoint" for designating a general philosophy that incorporates, in particular, the kind of positivism. The positivist scientist must really face a dilemma. Either he describes his standpoint as being merely a method, or he claims that it brings about a real elucidation of the subject-object relationship. If his standpoint is a method, it is one that has proved its excellence in several outstanding cases.