Wittgenstein's later philosophy argues

Meaning is use, not reference

This approach to meaning highlights the importance of context and the rules governing language use. It underscores that meaning is not an inherent property of words themselves, but emerges from their application in real-life situations.

Example

The word "bank" can mean different things depending on the context: a financial institution or the side of a river. Wittgenstein's view suggests that understanding the meaning of "bank" involves recognizing how it is used in different scenarios.

Remember this

This perspective matters because it helps us appreciate the fluidity and context-dependence of language, enhancing our ability to communicate effectively and understand others.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related concepts

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Wittgenstein taught at the University of Cambridge

Emmanuel Levinas

Levinas argues that ethics precedes knowledge

Sense and reference

Frege's distinction between sense and reference

Two Dogmas of Empiricism

Quine's essay attacked two central aspects of logical positivism

Heidegger's being-toward-death reveals

Heidegger's being-toward-death reveals finitude as the condition for authentic existence

Heidegger meant by the forgetting of Being

Heidegger's concept: Being = 1/Being

Swipe through 100 ML concepts daily

Open Pocket Polymath