4.3 Language games

• What years did Ludwig Wittgenstein live?

  1889-1951
• What philosophical position did Wittgenstein initially adopt?

  He started as a logical positivist
• Who was Ludwig Wittgenstein?

  An Austrian philosopher who wrote on logic, the philosophy of maths, the mind, and language
• How are words defined according to Wittgenstein?

  Words are defined by social context and do not have a singular specific meaning
• What is religious language considered to be in Wittgenstein's view?

  Religious language is a ‘language game’ by which we interpret the world
• What happens if we accept the logical positivist position regarding language?

  We rule out the rest of language, including poetry, art, religion, and life
• What does Wittgenstein mean by “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world”?

  Language defines the boundaries of our understanding and experience
• How does Wittgenstein describe language in relation to games?

  Language is a game with rules that define truth/reality
• What did Wittgenstein later do regarding his initial philosophical position?

  He later rejected the logical positivist position
• What is the test of meaning according to Wittgenstein?

  The test of meaning is whether others understand the statement
• What does Wittgenstein say about the rules of ordinary language?

  They are neither right nor wrong, but merely useful for particular applications
• How do members of a community develop their language game?

  They develop ways of speaking that serve their needs as a group
• How do the rules of religion function according to Wittgenstein?

  The rules of religion are self-enclosed and make sense to believers
• What does Wittgenstein say about the nature of religious language?

  It is not about stating facts but about an attitude or interpretation of the world
• How did Wittgenstein extend the idea of language games?

  He applied it to ‘forms of life’ such as religion
• What leads to misunderstanding in language games?

  Misunderstanding occurs when someone does not understand the rules of a language game
• How does belief in God relate to the language game of religion?

  Belief in God is part of the language game; one either adopts it or does not
• What does Wittgenstein say about the statements ‘I believe in God’ and ‘I do not believe in God’?

  They are not contradictory but represent different perspectives
• What does Wittgenstein consider nonsense in relation to factual statements about God?

  Trying to say something factual about God is nonsense
• What does Wittgenstein believe about a higher sphere?

  He believed there is a higher sphere encountered through awareness of value and personal need
• Who is D.Z. Philips?

  A philosopher who clarified the idea of language games in relation to religious matters
• How does D.Z. Philips view religious language?

  He sees it as a language game not grounded in reason
• What does Philips say about statements like ‘God exists’?

  They are expressions of belief understood only in the context of that belief
• How does Philips interpret the concept of the Last Judgement in religious language?

  It is a ‘picture’ that guides the believer through life, not a hypothesis
• What misconception does Philips address regarding prayer?

  If someone thinks prayer is a means to obtaining something, they misunderstand religion
• How does religious language express belief according to Philips?

  It expresses an emotional attitude and understanding of life
• What does Philips say about the relationship between God and religion?

  God is not ‘logically prior’ to religion; religion is a human response
• When does talk of God make sense according to Philips?

  It only makes sense within a religious perspective
• How should one understand religious language according to Philips?

  By understanding the place of certain statements in the life of the believer
• How would the statement ‘Jesus is God’s son’ be perceived differently by Christians and Muslims?

  It is meaningful for Christians but not for Muslims
• What does Philips say about the statement ‘Jesus is God’s son’ in relation to language games?

  It isn’t meaningful in any language game outside of Christianity
• What does Wittgenstein mean by 'forms of life' in relation to language games?

  'Forms of life' refer to the various contexts in which language games operate, including cultural and social practices.
• Why are language games not criticized in reason according to Philips?

  Because they operate as a system of their own, independent of rational critique.
• How does religious language express an emotional attitude?

  It reflects a commitment to living life according to a particular understanding of existence.
• What is the distinction between expressions of belief and factual statements in religious language?

  Expressions of belief convey personal convictions, while factual statements claim objective truth.
• What do verificationists believe about the meaning of a statement?

  A statement must be either empirically verifiable or tautologically true.
• How does verificationism affect religious language?

  It renders religious language meaningless as it cannot be empirically tested.
• What is Wittgenstein's argument regarding the meaning of language?

  The meaning of language comes from its function within specific "language games."
• How can the statement "John has big hands" be verified?

  By measuring John's hands and comparing them to an objective standard.
• How can religious language be meaningful according to Wittgenstein?

  It is understood in the context of the religious "language game."