Cognitivism and non cognitivism

• Cognitive theories


  Sentences are meaningful if they are connected in some identifiable way to the world, and describe the world either truly or falsely
• Non-cognitive theories


  Statements can be meaningful even though they do not refer to the world, and even though they cannot be shown to be true or false
• Theories of meaning


  • Cognitive
  • Non-cognitive
• Cognitive theories include verificationism and falsificationism
• Non-cognitive theories emphasise the complexity of language and the context within which language use takes place
• False sentences can still be meaningful because they 'paint a picture' of the world
• Cognitive theories say sentences are meaningful because they refer to the world (either truly or falsely)
• Non-cognitive theories argue that statements can be meaningful even if they do not refer to the world and cannot be shown to be true or false