Single Idea 23497

[catalogued under 19. Language / F. Communication / 4. Private Language]

Full Idea

What the solipsist means is quite correct; only it cannot be said, but makes itself manifest. The world is my world: this is manifest in the fact that the limits of language (of that language which I alone understand) mean the limits of my world.

Gist of Idea

Solipsism is correct, but can only be shown, not said, by the limits of my personal language

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 5.62)

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (Pears)', ed/tr. Pears,D. /McGuinness,B. [RKP 1961], p.57


A Reaction

I take it that LW later showed that the remark in brackets is absurd, using his Private Language argument. Commentators seem unclear about how seriously to take this claim.

Related Idea

Idea 5362 It is not illogical to think that only myself and my mental events exist [Russell]