370. But more correctly: The fact that I use the word 'hand' and all the other words in my sentence without a second thought, indeed that I should stand before the abyss if I wanted so much as to try doubting their meanings - shows that absence of doubt belongs to the essence of the language-game, that the question 'How do I know...' drags out the language-game, or else does away with it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Language relies on unspoken certainties; questioning these foundations disrupts the language game itself.
- In plain terms
- We speak without doubting words because doubt breaks how language works.
- What can you take from it?
- Language depends on unspoken trust in meaning.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What must you assume to speak?
- Does questioning meaning help or hinder?
Another view
Sometimes doubting meaning is necessary for precision.
More from Ludwig Wittgenstein
310. A pupil and a teacher. The pupil will not let anything be explained to him, for he continually interrupts with doubts, for instance as to the existence of…
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