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Full Idea
If you are not certain of any fact, you cannot be certain of the meaning of your words either.
Gist of Idea
If you are not certain of any fact, you cannot be certain of the meaning of your words either
Source
Ludwig Wittgenstein (On Certainty [1951], §114)
Book Ref
O'Grady,Paul: 'Relativism' [Acumen 2002], p.94
A Reaction
A wonderfully challenging aphorism. I suspect that it is true, but not really a problem. We all know the meaning of 'Loch Ness Monster', as long as we don't get too fussy. And for local objects I am happy that I know the facts.
3596 | Total doubt can't even get started [Wittgenstein, by Williams,M] |
4721 | If you are not certain of any fact, you cannot be certain of the meaning of your words either [Wittgenstein] |
3597 | Foundations need not precede other beliefs [Wittgenstein] |