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Single Idea 5676

[from 'Philosophical Investigations' by Ludwig Wittgenstein, in 16. Persons / C. Self-Awareness / 1. Introspection ]

Full Idea

As the word is normally used, it can't be said of me at all that I 'know' I am in pain; what is it supposed to mean - except perhaps that I am in pain?

Gist of Idea

To say that I 'know' I am in pain means nothing more than that I AM in pain

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations [1952], §246)

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Philosophical Investigations', ed/tr. Anscombe,E. [Blackwell 1972], p.89


A Reaction

This raises the question of whether self-consciousness implies self-knowledge, and suggests that it doesn't. All our normal talk of knowledge requires some sort of reliable justification of beliefs, and we can't drop that in the case of self-knowledge.