Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Ludwig Wittgenstein, in his *Philosophical Investigations* (1953), radically shifted his views on language from the early *Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus*. He moved away from the idea that language functions primarily to picture reality, proposing instead that language is fundamentally a social practice – a ‘language-game’. This shift was underpinned by his concept of ‘family resemblance’, which challenged the traditional notion that concepts must have a single, defining essence. Understanding how these two ideas intertwine is crucial to grasping Wittgenstein’s later philosophy and its implications for understanding meaning and communication.
Understanding ‘Language-Games’
Wittgenstein argued that the meaning of a word isn't derived from a correspondence to an object in the world, but from its use within a specific context – a ‘language-game’. These ‘games’ are not literal games, but rather diverse activities involving language, each with its own rules and purposes. Examples include giving orders, describing objects, telling jokes, praying, and scientific reasoning. Each game dictates how words are used and understood. The meaning is thus ‘use’ in a particular context.
The Problem with Essentialism
Traditionally, it was believed that concepts possess a common essence – a set of necessary and sufficient conditions that define them. For example, a ‘game’ was thought to have defining features like competition, rules, and amusement. However, Wittgenstein pointed out that there is no single feature common to all games. Board games, card games, and ball games are vastly different, yet we all recognize them as ‘games’.
Introducing ‘Family Resemblance’
Wittgenstein introduced the concept of ‘family resemblance’ to address this problem. He likened concepts to members of a family – they share similarities, but not necessarily a single, defining trait. Just as family members resemble each other in various ways (eye color, nose shape, mannerisms) without sharing a single common feature, concepts are connected through overlapping and crisscrossing similarities.
How ‘Family Resemblance’ Upholds ‘Language is a Game’
‘Family resemblance’ is vital to the ‘language-game’ thesis because it explains how meaning can be fluid and context-dependent. If concepts don’t have fixed essences, then the meaning of words isn’t determined by a pre-existing, objective reality. Instead, meaning emerges from the way words are used within specific language-games.
- No Fixed Rules: Just as there's no single rule defining a ‘game’, there are no fixed rules governing the use of language in general.
- Overlapping Similarities: Words gain meaning through overlapping similarities with other words within a particular game.
- Context is Key: The context of the language-game determines which similarities are relevant and how the word is understood.
Examples Illustrating the Connection
Consider the word ‘game’. We can see family resemblances between chess (strategic, intellectual), football (physical, competitive), and hide-and-seek (playful, simple). However, there’s no single characteristic they all share. Similarly, the word ‘knowledge’ can be used in different language-games – a scientific context, a legal context, or a personal context – each with its own criteria for what counts as ‘knowledge’. The meaning isn’t fixed; it’s determined by the game being played.
| Concept | Traditional View | Wittgenstein’s View (Family Resemblance) |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Correspondence to reality | Use in a language-game |
| Concepts | Possess a defining essence | Share overlapping similarities |
| Language | Pictures reality | A collection of language-games |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Wittgenstein’s notion of ‘family resemblance’ is not merely a descriptive observation but a foundational element of his ‘language-game’ thesis. It dismantles the traditional search for essential definitions and highlights the contextual, social, and practical nature of meaning. By recognizing that concepts are held together by overlapping similarities rather than fixed essences, Wittgenstein provides a powerful framework for understanding how language functions as a dynamic and multifaceted tool within various human activities. This perspective fundamentally alters our understanding of philosophy of language and its relation to human understanding.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.