tags::#linguistics
Ludwig Wittgenstein advocated a functional theory of meaning, namely that words and language are part of an ‘anti-realist’ or postmodern approach to language. He argued that language statements are not intended to be true or false for everyone, but only for those who are within that form of life.
Example
A scientific statement would be true or false for a scientist but not, necessarily, for an artist.
- The language in the game is Non-Cognitive - it is not about making universally true statements, but about communicating meaning to other players in the same way.
- Language can be correctly or incorrectly used within the rules of the game, but its primary purpose is not to make factual statements.
- As far as religious language is concerned, Ludwig Wittgenstein was suggesting that it is meaningful when understood within the context of its own language game.