Language Games Flashcards
Who proposed Language Games?
Ludwig Wittgenstein
What is the outline of Language Games?
All language is a ‘game’
Language is not meant to be true or false for everyone, what is this called?
non- cognitive
What is a form of life?
Religion, Music, Literature, Art, Science etc
What does each game have?
A criteria of coherence
What is the primary focus of a language game?
To not make factual statements
Give an example of a Language game difference…
A ‘wave’ will have a different meaning to a sailor as it does to a scientist
What is a rule for language games?
A player of one game cannot criticise a player of another without learning or entering the rules of the game for that form of life
How do language games apply to religious language?
Wittgenstein is suggesting that it is meaningful within the context of its language game and therefore cannot be criticised
What are criticisms of the language games?
- religious language alienates those outside the game
- the rules of the game cannot be changed to let outsiders in
- does not allow for believers claims to be empirically tested
What does the meaning of words depend on?
The Context
What was Wittgenstein’s faith?
He was atheist
What is a key quote?
whereof one cannot speak one must be silent
