Single Idea 4150

[catalogued under 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 5. Meaning as Verification]

Full Idea

Asking whether and how a proposition can be verified is only a particular way of asking 'How do you mean?' The answer is a contribution to the grammar of the proposition.

Gist of Idea

Asking about verification is only one way of asking about the meaning of a proposition

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations [1952], §353)

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Philosophical Investigations', ed/tr. Anscombe,E. [Blackwell 1972], p.112


A Reaction

'How' a proposition is verified seems utterly irrelevant. What situation in reality provides the verification must have something to do with the meaning. Cat-on-mat is what counts, not whether you see it, hear it or smell it.