claims

Claims Quiz

(January 19th, 66.7% - 8/12)

I had a pet dog as a child.

objective claim
subjective claim
too vague to be a claim
not a claim, but not too vague

It is a claim because it makes sense to say that it is either true or false, though we may not know which. It is objective because the way we find out its truth value (i.e.: whether it is true or false) is by reference to an impersonal fact; in this case, either the speaker did or did not have a dog as a child, though we cannot tell, of course, from the claim itself

My name is David Frump.

objective claim
subjective claim
too vague to be a claim
not a claim, but not too vague

It is a claim because it makes sense to say that it is either true or false, though we may not know which. It is objective because the way we find out its truth value (i.e.: whether it is true or false) is by reference to an impersonal fact; in this case, a person's name is an objective fact about them, not a psychological fact

If everybody would just love each other, the world would be a better place.

objective claim
subjective claim
too vague to be a claim
not a claim, but not too vague

A sentence is too vague when one cannot reliably tell under what conditions it would be true or false. Remember that words on their own are inherently vague; what matters is whether they are vague in context. The word "love," both here and in general, is vague. People often exploit its vagueness. (e.g.: "Of course, I love you.")

How far were you from the dock?

objective claim
subjective claim
too vague to be a claim
not a claim, but not too vague

This is not a claim. It is a question, and questions ask for information rather than claiming something about the way the world is.

I found it hot yesterday.

objective claim
subjective claim
too vague to be a claim
not a claim, but not too vague

It is a claim because it makes sense to say that it is either true or false, though we may not know which. It is subjective because the way we find out its truth value (i.e.: whether it is true or false) is by reference to a psychological fact (e.g.: what a person believes, desires, thinks, prefers, etc); in this case, whether the speaker did or did not find it hot yesterday determines the truth value of the claim.

42 + 8 = 51

objective claim
subjective claim
too vague to be a claim
not a claim, but not too vague

It is a claim because it makes sense to say that it is either true or false, though we may not know which. It is objective because the way we find out its truth value (i.e.: whether it is true or false) is by reference to an impersonal fact; in this case, the laws of arithmetic determine the truth value of the claim. Note that the claim is false!

Sex and drugs and rock and roll.

objective claim
subjective claim
too vague to be a claim
not a claim, but not too vague

This is not a claim. It does not assert anything. If it said, "Sex and drugs and rock and roll have been very good to me," it would be a subjective claim.

Newspaper Headline: "Prostitutes appeal to Pope."

objective claim
subjective claim
too vague to be a claim
not a claim, but not too vague

A sentence is too vague when one cannot reliably tell under what conditions it would be true or false. Remember that words on their own are inherently vague; what matters is whether they are vague in context. It is almost certain that this sentence describes an appeal by prostitutes to the Roman Catholic pontiff; however, that is not clear from the context given.

Her car has lots of bells and whistles.

objective claim
subjective claim
too vague to be a claim
not a claim, but not too vague

A sentence is too vague when one cannot reliably tell under what conditions it would be true or false. Remember that words on their own are inherently vague; what matters is whether they are vague in context. On the one hand, it seems we know what "bells and whistles" means in this context: fancy accessories. On the other hand, if we interpret it in this way, "fancy accessories" is vague; different people have different ideas about what is fancy.

You are such a loser.

objective claim
subjective claim
too vague to be a claim
not a claim, but not too vague

A sentence is too vague when one cannot reliably tell under what conditions it would be true or false. Remember that words on their own are inherently vague; what matters is whether they are vague in context. In this case, "loser" can mean many different things. It could even have a positive meaning, as in weight loss reality shows.

Carole wants you to like her.

objective claim
subjective claim
too vague to be a claim
not a claim, but not too vague

It is a claim because it makes sense to say that it is either true or false, though we may not know which. It is subjective because the way we find out its truth value (i.e.: whether it is true or false) is by reference to a psychological fact (e.g.: what a person believes, desires, thinks, prefers, etc); in this case, Carole's wants determine the truth value of the claim

He seemed like a pretty smart fellow.

objective claim
subjective claim
too vague to be a claim
not a claim, but not too vague