What is the meaning of whereof one Cannot speak thereof one must be silent?

“Whereof one cannot speak thereof one must remain silent” is the conclusion of Wittgenstein’s Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus; the phrase is meant to imply that people interested in meaningful knowledge should set aside speculative metaphysics in favor of valid and verifiable propositional statements.

What should one do when one Cannot speak according to the Tractatus?

It is to be used in order to climb on it, in order to “see the world rightly”; but thereafter it must be recognized as nonsense and be thrown away. Hence: “whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent” (7).

When should one be silent?

In short, it’s often better to stay silent rather than blurting out something which may make things worse or create misunderstandings. 4. When in group conversations, especially if you’re not conversant with those you’re talking with, it is often an honest idea to be silent to watch and study those you’re talking with.

What does Wittgenstein say about language?

Wittgenstein not only believes that such concepts are essential in being a human, but speaking of them degrades and cheapens our intuitive understanding of these concepts. Therefore, other means of expression take over when the capacity of language cannot withstand the significance of such concepts and the weightiness of human emotions.

What did Wittgenstein mean by “I find all his epigrams obvious”?

, studied philosophy at university level. As with any Wittgenstein quote, it’s difficult to work out exactly what he meant. All we know is that he found all his enigmatic epigrams so completely obvious that asking him for direction sometimes drove him into a rage.

Why is Ludwig Wittgenstein important to philosophy?

Considered by some to be the greatest philosopher of the 20th century, Ludwig Wittgenstein played a central, if controversial, role in 20th-century analytic philosophy. He continues to influence current philosophical thought in topics as diverse as logic and language, perception and intention, ethics and religion, aesthetics and culture.

What did Wittgenstein do in the 1930s?

In the 1930s and 1940s Wittgenstein conducted seminars at Cambridge, developing most of the ideas that he intended to publish in his second book, Philosophical Investigations. These included the turn from formal logic to ordinary language, novel reflections on psychology and mathematics, and a general skepticism concerning philosophy’s pretensions.