Religious language as a language game Flashcards
Who was Ludwig Wittgenstein?
An Austrian-British philosopher who was once associated with the Vienna Circle
What do sociologists argue, that Wittgenstein took ideas from?
Each culture sees the world from its own frame of reference. They interpret events differently to someone with different cultural glasses.
What does Wittgenstein argue about the interpretation of language?
It can be interpreted differently and it is only through a knowledge of the context of the statement that is made, that we can fully understand it.
What does Wittgenstein conclude?
Language is made up of various language games which have their own language rules.
What does each unique activity have?
Its own unique language game. The language used in each language game allow for all the members involved in the language game to communicate.
What does Wittgenstein argue about the meaningfulness of language?
Language is meaningful if you are part of a particular language game, not meaningful if you are no part of the game.
What are ‘forms of life’?
They are contingent upon culture and context if you are immersed in a form of life, you will understand its rules of the game.
How can religious language therefore be seen as meaningful?
Language of religious belief is understandable to people who participate in religious belief language game.
What type of theory is Wittgenstein’s?
A coherence theory, as language is meaningful within groups but can’t be verified empirically.
