Flashcards
Relgious Language - Language Games
Cards in this deck (16)
- 1What are language games?A theory established by Wittgenstein which states the words we know are from different language games.
- 2What observations led him to this theory?Just like cricket, language operates according to rules. Just as cricketers understand the leg before the wicket rule, religious people understand the language of religion.
- 3What does Wittgenstein mean when he refers to 'forms of life'?We learn different languages because we are born into a culture so we learn a shared practical life together.
- 4Explain the theory:Imagine the sections of our lives we live in (job, religion, friends) the language used by our family is not the same as language used by our friends. When we learn a new subject, what we are doing is learning a new language.
- 5How does this link to RL?Theists and non-theists are playing different language games. It gives meaning to those who use it.
- 6Is RL meaningful?It is as we can understand the claim that 'God is love' by looking at how it is used within the religious form of life. However it would be meaningless to make the claim within another language game.
- 7Quote From: WittgensteinWhereof we cannot speak, thereof we should be silent
- 8What does LG allow for?Talk of God as we can say you can create a God language game where finite words can be used to describe God.
- 9Positives to the theory?1. distinguishes RL from other language but still shows it has meaning.
2. Allows talk of God
3. LG defends criticism of RL - 10Weaknesses of Language games?1. Does not allow claims to be empirically verified
2. Alienates those outside the game
3. Can be argued as being too subjective
4. Can lead to absolute reletivism. Could be a form of life which believes there are pixies? - 11Can individuals create a private language?No. Cannot tell if you are using the words correctly as language is a social product therefore no thoughts are private.
- 12Who thought they had proved their own existence through private thoughts?Rene Descartes
'I think therefore I am' - 13Could non-religious people understand RL better than believers?Arguably because non-religious believers have an objective view on the use of religious language.
- 14Why do some not like language games?Removes link between language and empirical evidence.
There is no objective truth/reality. - 15What did Wittgenstein compare language to?A game of Chess. Rules state how to play the game but to understand what the 'queen' or a 'pawn' is. It only makes sense within the context of the game of chess.
- 16How did Peter Geach criticise language games?The theory suggests that words take meaning from the game they are played in, yet the language game is formed by the words used within it and therefore takes meaning from the words. This logic is circular and pays no credit to truth.
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- a2 Religious Studies (Philosophy) Flashcards on Relgious Language - Language Games, created by Ella Foster on 08/02/2017.
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- Ella Foster
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