Question

Which among the following statements does W.V.O. Quine REJECT in his work, Two Dogmas of Empiricism?

• A. The distinction between analytic and synthetic truths.
• B. Every meaningful statement can be reduced to a statement about immediate experience.
• C. Truths which are grounded in meanings are dependent on truths which are grounded in fact.
• D. The verification theory of meaning is not a possible key to resolve the problem of meaning.

Hint:

Quine’s holism argues that our beliefs are tested against experience collectively, not one by one.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A, B, C

Step 1: Identifying Quine’s target in Two Dogmas.
Quine famously criticizes two central assumptions of logical empiricism: the analytic–synthetic distinction and reductionism.
Step 2: Evaluating option (A).
Quine rejects the distinction between analytic truths (true by meaning) and synthetic truths (true by fact), arguing that no clear boundary exists.
Step 3: Evaluating option (B).
He also rejects reductionism—the idea that each meaningful statement can be translated into statements about immediate experience.
Step 4: Evaluating option (C).
Quine denies that truths grounded purely in meaning can be neatly separated from empirical truths, since our statements face experience as a holistic web of belief.
Step 5: Eliminating option (D).
Option (D) actually reflects Quine’s own position and therefore is not rejected by him.
Step 6: Conclusion.
Thus, Quine rejects statements (A), (B), and (C).
Final Answer: (A), (B), and (C)