Ludwig Wittgenstein

Ludwig Wittgenstein
EARLY: PICTURE THEORY
LATER: LANGUAGE GAMES

Early: Picture Theory (Logical Positivist view)
Language corresponds to a state of affairs in the world
Language can only be meaningful if it used in relation to what we see in the world
Language is a way of representing facts
“The cat is on the mat”

Later: Language Games
Criticised Vienna Circle – our language is far richer & more diverse than LP allow
Multiplicity of language:
Give orders, tell jokes, describe, report, ask, thank, curse, greet, pray etc
If we want to know the meaning of the language, we need to know how it is being used – “meaning is use”

The context of language
Language activity is governed by certain rules – according to the context in which it is used.
One use of a particular word is not better than another
Language is meaningful if it is understood in the correct context
The mistake made by Ayer etc is to treat all language as if it was all part of the same game.
TRY
DRIBBLE
DRAW

Religious Language
Believers are all players of the same “game”
They use the same language in the same context
They understand the context in which the language is used
To understand it, we must also play the game – be in that particular “form of life”.

Meaning of Language
“God Exists”
Wittgenstein recognises the meaning behind this statement.
To a religious believer this statement means more than “there is a god”.
It is a positive affirmation that they are entering into a life of faith.
When a religious believer makes this statement, they are confirming their belief in God as a reality in their life – a declaration of faith
Unless you are a believer, you cannot understand what this means.