Ayer

Developed Hume's fork.

His verification principle: "A statement only has meaning if it is analytic or can in principle be verified empirically. 

Basically, he is saying that a statement only has meaning if it gives no extra information about the world or if it can be verified using experience. 

Meaningful statements:

2+2=4 - Analytic

There are 8 planets in the solar system - Can be verified empirically

Not meaningful statements:

God exists - Can't be verified empirically  

A statement only has meaning if it is analytic or can in principle be verified empirically - Can't be verified empirically

Criticism..

• His own statement goes against what he is saying because it cannot be verified using experience.