Language Games, Unresolved Problems
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Jesús Padilla Gálvez
Abstract
The concept of ‘Sprachspiel’ is blurred, so that when we use it, its reference tends to disappear. But does this mean that the concept of ‘language game’ is vague and lacks clear contours? In this paper, Padilla Gálvez addresses the question of how the concept can be determined. The aim is to outline the arguments Wittgenstein used to clarify the alleged vagueness. The author goes back to the beginning of Wittgenstein’s research and finds that the concept of ‘language game’ is a solution to an unresolved problem in the Tractatus. This problem has to do with the inability to give a definitive explanation of the general form of sentence and language. However, Wittgenstein does not succeed in giving an accurate characterization of it either, as will be shown in this work. This is an extremely fascinating problem, and one that has not been much studied since it was first posed by Wittgenstein.
Abstract
The concept of ‘Sprachspiel’ is blurred, so that when we use it, its reference tends to disappear. But does this mean that the concept of ‘language game’ is vague and lacks clear contours? In this paper, Padilla Gálvez addresses the question of how the concept can be determined. The aim is to outline the arguments Wittgenstein used to clarify the alleged vagueness. The author goes back to the beginning of Wittgenstein’s research and finds that the concept of ‘language game’ is a solution to an unresolved problem in the Tractatus. This problem has to do with the inability to give a definitive explanation of the general form of sentence and language. However, Wittgenstein does not succeed in giving an accurate characterization of it either, as will be shown in this work. This is an extremely fascinating problem, and one that has not been much studied since it was first posed by Wittgenstein.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Vindicating Language Games: An Introduction 1
- The Non-Epistemic Model of Certainty in Wittgenstein’s Perspective 19
- How Do Language Games Work? 35
- Wittgenstein’s Concept of Language Games from a Linguistic and Analytical Perspective 61
- Language Games, Unresolved Problems 91
- Are Beliefs Social Realities? 121
- Chess and Chess960: Language Games, Forms of Life, and Negotiation 139
- Abbreviations of Wittgenstein’s Works 171
- List of Contributors 175
- Index of Names 177
- Subject Index 179
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Vindicating Language Games: An Introduction 1
- The Non-Epistemic Model of Certainty in Wittgenstein’s Perspective 19
- How Do Language Games Work? 35
- Wittgenstein’s Concept of Language Games from a Linguistic and Analytical Perspective 61
- Language Games, Unresolved Problems 91
- Are Beliefs Social Realities? 121
- Chess and Chess960: Language Games, Forms of Life, and Negotiation 139
- Abbreviations of Wittgenstein’s Works 171
- List of Contributors 175
- Index of Names 177
- Subject Index 179
