Logical positivism is a philosophical movement that emerged in the early 20th century, primarily associated with the Vienna Circle. It emphasizes that meaningful statements must be either empirically verifiable or analytically true. This means that for a statement to be considered valid, it should either be tested through observation or be a tautology, like mathematical truths. The movement sought to eliminate metaphysics and focus on scientific knowledge, arguing that many traditional philosophical questions are meaningless. Prominent figures in logical positivism include Rudolf Carnap and A.J. Ayer, who advocated for a clear distinction between science and nonsensical claims.