The 25 best phrases of Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein (Vienna, 1889 - 1951) was an Austrian mathematician, linguist, philosopher and writer. Wittgenstein's work is considered one of the most prolific and significant in the world of philosophy, mainly in the field of linguistics and communication.
One of the main essays of him, Tractatus logico-philosophicus, collects some of the theories that most influenced the members of the Vienna Circle.
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Famous quotes by Ludwig Wittgenstein
Wittgenstein from Bertrand Russell at Trinity College, Cambridge University. His family environment favored his intellectual and cultural development, to the point of being considered by most scholars as one of the leading thinkers in the 20th century.
In this article we are going to know the best phrases of Ludwig Wittgenstein, as well as some excerpts from his books that can be considered famous quotes from the pioneer of analytical philosophy.
1. If Christianity is the truth, all philosophy about it is false.
On western religion and their discrepancy on the matter.
2. The way you use the word "God" does not show who you think of, but what you think.
An example of how we use language in a self-referential way.
3. Wisdom has no passions. Kierkegaard calls faith, on the contrary, a passion.
On beliefs, recalling the vision of another famous philosopher.
4. What do you care Take care to be your best! As you are, you can't even understand what the truth may be here.
A phrase by Wittgenstein that brings us closer to self-discovery.
5. Religion says: Do this! Think like this! But he cannot substantiate it and when he tries it is repugnant; for for each of the reasons you give, there is a solid contrary reason. More convincing would be to say "Think like that! Strange as it may seem." Or: "Don't you want to do this?"
In this case he talks to us about the argumentative fragility of religious dogmas.
6. Tell them my life was wonderful.
Shortly before passing away, Wittgenstein uttered this phrase to his doctor.
7. Philosophy is a fight against the bewitching of our intelligence through the use of language.
One of those philosophical quotes that can leave you thinking for hours.
8. Revolutionary will be the one who can revolutionize himself.
It does not serve to want to change the environment. The main thing is to change ourselves.
9. We feel that even though all possible scientific questions have been answered, our vital problems have not yet been touched in the slightest. Of course, then there is no question left; and this is precisely the answer.
An extract from his main work, Tractatus logico-philosophicus.
10. What cannot be talked about must be kept quiet.
Plain and simple.
11. The ineffable (that which seems mysterious to me and which I dare not express) perhaps provides the background against which what I might express acquires meaning.
We always talk from prudence, but what cannot be expressed sneaks into the confines of what we express between the lines.
12. That all wisdom is cold and that with it it is as difficult to order life as to forge cold iron.
Pure knowledge is not a guarantor of happiness.
13. Wisdom is gray. Instead, life and religion are multi-colored.
In line with the previous famous quote.
14. The Christian religion is only for those who need infinite help, that is, for those who feel infinite anguish.
Another of his sentences in which he questions the need to believe in a religion.
15. We feel that even though all possible scientific questions have been answered, our vital problems have not yet touched one another. Of course, then there is no question left; and this is precisely the answer.
Putting science before vital expression, in this famous paradox.
16. We don't realize the prodigious diversity of everyday language games because the outer coating of our language makes everything look the same.
On the complexity of communicative forms.
17. The sense of the world has to reside outside it and, moreover, outside the meaningful language.
Another philosophical phrase from Wittgenstein in which he expounds his thinking about language and existence.
18. A proposition can only tell how a thing is, but not what it is.
Reflection still studied in communication faculties and in the field of linguistics.
19. The architecture exalts something. Therefore, where there is nothing to exalt, there can be no architecture.
Curious vision about the function of architecture.
20. The limits of my language are the limits of my world.
Perhaps Wittgenstein's most famous phrase, in which a large part of his theoretical postulates is synthesized.
21. Death is not a life event. Death is not lived. If by eternity is understood not an infinite temporal duration, but timelessness, then he who lives in the present lives eternally.
Great reflection on the limits of existence.
22. Do not play with the depths of another!
You have to be careful when discovering the feelings of others.
23. Our civilization is characterized by the word "progress". Progress is your way, not one of your qualities, progress. It is typically constructive. His activity is to build an increasingly complicated product. And even clarity is at the service of this end; it is not an end in itself. For me, on the contrary, clarity, transparency, is an end in itself.
Theorizing about the development of civilization.
24. The correct method of philosophy would be properly this: to say nothing more than what can be said, that is, propositions of natural science, that is, something that nothing has to do with philosophy, and then, how many times someone wanted to say something metaphysical, prove to him that in his propositions he had not given meaning to certain signs. This method would be unsatisfactory to you, but it would be the only strictly correct one.
In short, we need to interpret observable (natural) events in order to give meaning to everything around us.
25. Our words only express facts, in the same way that a cup of tea can only contain the volume of water typical of a cup of tea no matter how much a liter is poured into it.
A great metaphor that exemplifies his vision of the linguistic environment.
