Ludwig Wittgenstein (Vienna, 1889 – 1951) was an Austrian mathematician, linguist, philosopher and writer. Wittgenstein’s work is considered one of the most prolific and significant in the world of philosophy, mainly in the field of linguistics and communication.
One of his main essays, Tractatus logico-philosophicus, collects some of the theories that most influenced the members of the Vienna Circle
Bertrand Russell’s Wittgenstein at Trinity College, Cambridge University. His family environment favored his intellectual and cultural development, to the point of being considered by most scholars as one of the leading thinkers of the 20th century.
In this article we are going to know the best phrases of Ludwig Wittgenstein as well as some excerpts from his books that can be considered famous quotes from the pioneer of analytical philosophy.
1. If Christianity is the truth, all philosophy about it is false.
About Western religion and their disagreement about it.
2. The way you use the word “God” does not show who you think of, but what you think.
An example of how we use language in a self-referential way.
3. Wisdom has no passions. Kierkegaard calls faith, on the contrary, a passion.
About beliefs, recalling the vision of another famous philosopher.
4. What matters to you? Get busy being your best! As you are, you can’t even understand what the truth here may be.
A phrase from Wittgenstein that brings us closer to self-discovery.
5. Religion says: Do this! Think like this! But he cannot substantiate it and when he tries it is repugnant; because for each of the reasons you give, there is a solid contrary reason. More convincing would be to say “Think like this!, no matter how strange it may seem to you.” Or: “Wouldn’t you want to do this?”
In this case it tells us about the fragility of religious dogmas.
6. Tell them my life was wonderful.
Shortly before he died, Wittgenstein uttered this phrase to his doctor.
7. Philosophy is a fight against the bewitching of our intelligence through the use of language.
One of those philosophical quotes that can leave you thinking for hours.
8. Revolutionary will be one who can revolutionize himself.
It’s no use wanting to change the environment. The main thing is to change ourselves.
9. We feel that even when all possible scientific questions have been answered, our vital problems have not yet been addressed in the slightest. Of course then there is no longer any question; and this is precisely the answer.
An excerpt from his main work, Tractatus logico-philosophicus.
10. What cannot be talked about must be kept silent.
Plain and simple.
11. The ineffable (that which seems mysterious to me and that I do not dare to express) perhaps provides the background on which what I could express acquires meaning.
We always talk from prudence, but what cannot be expressed sneaks into the confines of what we express between the lines.
12. That all wisdom is cold and that with it it is as difficult to order life as it is to forge cold iron.
Pure knowledge is not a guarantee of happiness.
13. Wisdom is gray. On the other hand, life and religion are multicolored.
In line with the famous quote above.
14. The Christian religion is only for those who need infinite help, that is, for those who feel infinite anguish.
Another of his sentences in which he questions the need to believe in a religion.
15. We feel that even though all possible scientific questions have been answered, our vital problems have not yet been addressed in the slightest. Of course then there is no longer any question; and this is precisely the answer.
Putting science before vital expression, in this famous paradox.
16. We don’t realize the prodigious diversity of everyday language games because the outer covering of our language makes it all seem the same.
About the complexity of communicative forms.
17. The meaning of the world has to reside outside of it and, furthermore, outside of meaningful language.
Another philosophical phrase from Wittgenstein in which he exposes his thoughts about language and existence.
18. A proposition can only say what a thing is like, but not what it is.
Reflection still studied in the faculties of communication and in the field of linguistics.
19. Architecture exalts something. Therefore, where there is nothing to exalt, there can be no architecture.
Curious vision about the function of architecture.
20. The limits of my language are the limits of my world.
Perhaps Wittgenstein’s most famous phrase, which summarizes a large part of his theoretical postulates.
21. Death is not an event in life. Death is not lived. If by eternity we mean not an infinite temporal duration, but timelessness, then he who lives in the present lives eternally.
Great reflection about the limits of existence.
22. Don’t play with another’s depths!
We must remain cautious when it comes to discovering the feelings of others.
23. Our civilization is characterized by the word “progress.” Progress is its form, not one of its qualities, progressing. It is typically constructive. Their activity is to build an increasingly complicated product. And even clarity is at the service of this end; It is not an end in itself. For me, on the contrary, clarity, transparency, is an end in itself.
Theorizing about the development of civilization.
24. The correct method of philosophy would be exactly this: not to say anything more than what can be said, that is, propositions of natural science, that is, something that has nothing to do with philosophy, and then, how many times someone would like to say something metaphysical, to prove to him that in his propositions he had not given meaning to certain signs. This method would be unsatisfactory to him, but it would be the only strictly correct one.
In short, we need to interpret observable (natural) events in order to give meaning to everything around us.
25. Our words only express facts, in the same way that a cup of tea can only contain the volume of water of a cup of tea no matter how much a liter is poured into it.
A great metaphor that exemplifies his vision of the linguistic environment.
