back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 18732

[from 'Lectures 1930-32 (student notes)' by Ludwig Wittgenstein, in 1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 5. Linguistic Analysis ]

Full Idea

It is nonsense to try to find a theory of truth, because we can see that in everyday life we use the word quite clearly and definitely in various different senses.

Gist of Idea

We don't need a theory of truth, because we use the word perfectly well

Source

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

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Lectures in Cambridge 1930-32', ed/tr. Lee,Desmond [Blackwell 1980], p.76


A Reaction

This was a year before Tarski published his famous theory of truth for formal languages. Prior to that, most philosophers were giving up on truth. Would he say the same about 'gravity' or 'inflation'?