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Single Idea 18735

[filed under theme 2. Reason / F. Fallacies / 8. Category Mistake / b. Category mistake as syntactic ]

Full Idea

Talking nonsense is not following the rules.

Gist of Idea

Talking nonsense is not following the rules

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Lectures 1930-32 (student notes) [1931], C X)

Book Ref

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Lectures in Cambridge 1930-32', ed/tr. Lee,Desmond [Blackwell 1980], p.87


A Reaction

He doesn't seem to distinguish between syntax and semantics, and makes it sound as if all nonsense is syntactic, which it isn't.


The 5 ideas with the same theme [category mistakes as result of syntax errors]:

Grammar says that saying 'sound is red' is not false, but nonsense [Wittgenstein]
Talking nonsense is not following the rules [Wittgenstein]
Category mistakes as syntactic needs a huge number of fine-grained rules [Magidor]
Category mistakes seem to be universal across languages [Magidor]
Embedded (in 'he said that…') category mistakes show syntax isn't the problem [Magidor]