Ludwig Wittgenstein and Religion (original) (raw)

Ludwig Wittgenstein: Towards a Meaningful Talk About Religion

International journal of social sciences, 2020

Wittgenstein’s profound thought had rich implications regarding religious belief and religion. In his early philosophy, silence occupies a central place to articulate what is beyond the boundary of language. Silence overcomes the limits of human language. In Wittgenstein’s later philosophy, religious language and different religious languages are legitimized by the multiple uses of language. An evaluation of his linguistic philosophy and its application in religious belief reveals that despite the limitations of his philosophy, Wittgenstein has enriched the contemporary philosophy of religion. This paper discusses the meaningful talk about religion, religious speech acts and religious rituals with Wittgenstein’s later understanding of the religious domain. Though Wittgenstein was not a religious man, he saw things from a religious point of view. His insight on religious belief can be seen from different perspectives. From a pragmatic perspective, religious language is very much tied...

Worlds or words apart? Wittgenstein on understanding religious language

Ratio, 2007

In this paper I develop an account of Wittgenstein's conception of what it is to understand religious language. I show that Wittgenstein's view undermines the idea that as regards religious faith only two options are possible -either adherence to a set of metaphysical beliefs (with certain ways of acting following from these beliefs) or passionate commitment to a 'doctrineless' form of life. I offer a defence of Wittgenstein's conception against Kai Nielsen's charges that Wittgenstein removes the 'content' from religious belief and renders the religious form of life 'incommensurable' with other domains of discourse, thus immunizing it against rational criticism.

Religion as A Form of Life: Some Remarks on Wittgenstein’s Concept of “Religion”

2019

Wittgenstein’s remarks on religion and religious language has some bearings on the current discussions on place of the religion in the secular societies. Early Wittgenstein represents a restrictive concept of religion as the religious language remains beyond the limits of ordinary experience and senses. In the Investigations religious life regarded as one form of life among other life experiences and hence the religious expression may as well constitutes a particular language game in itself. Wittgenstenians are divided on implications of this new conception of religion later works of Wittgenstein indicates.In this article I will analyze the implications of Wittgenstein’s concept of religion and religious language in the context of his later works. The question about the religion as a form of life needs to be answered as follows: Is religious language, according to Wittgenstein, a closed discourse that only within particular religious language game becomes meaningful? Or does Wittgen...

Inquiry into the Grammar of God: Wittgenstein and Religious Belief

Philippiniana Sacra, 2002

If reason was bestowed on us by Heaven and the same can be said of faith, then Heaven has presented us with two incompatible and contradictory suríé4 -Denis Diderot Jppuíu{z"mñ §"Yqzééqé"}tux{é{}tuÉñqé * The author wishes to extend gratitude to Dr. Ignace Vérhack and Mr. Matthew James Fielding for the critical comments and suggestions.

Not Beyond Language: Wittgenstein and Lindbeck on the Problem of Speaking about God

2021

This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given.

Ludwig Wittgenstein: Language-Game and Religious Belief

Interference: Journal of Language, Literature, and Linguistics, 2020

Wittgenstein's new understanding of meaning as use has far reaching implications in religion and religious belief. The meaningfulness of language does not depend on the referent but on the actual use of it in the human context. The variety of language uses makes religious language legitimate, and the social character of language makes clear the role of training in religious belief. The characteristic features of religious belief can be summarized as follows: It is an unshakable commitment devoid of evidences and arguments, and it is reasonable only within its framework and grounded on the religious form of life. The rituals that are part of religious beliefs are symbolic and expressive. The existential concerns of human beings reveal a common spiritual nature enabling us to understand other religions and cultures as mirrored in our own humanity.

Wittgenstein on the Grammar of Religious Beliefs

Ludwig Wittgenstein's renewed approach to language and religious belief has significantly influenced the traditional Judeo-Christian approach to religious belief that is highly metaphysical with its doctrinal and dogmatic character. Penetrated into the depth grammar, Wittgenstein claimed that religious language does not give an explanation of supernatural entities as does natural science, which explains natural entities and facts. The meaning of religious language is divorced from its doctrinal footings and finds its meaning in ordinary life situations. This paper is an attempt to expose Wittgenstein's non-metaphysical approach to religious discourses, emphasizing the priority of practice over doctrine by delving into the depth grammar of religious beliefs to find a space for meaningful talk about religion and religious beliefs in the form of life where they are used in religious celebrations and ritual practices. Wittgenstein has made an attempt to bring religious beliefs and discourse to their original home, centered on the life of the community of believers.

Wittgenstein on Religious Belief

Cambridge Elements Series, 2023

Wittgenstein published next to nothing on the philosophy of religion and yet his conception of religious belief has been both enormously influential and hotly contested. In the contemporary literature, Wittgenstein has variously been labelled a fideist, a non-cognitivist and a relativist of sorts. This Element shows that all of these readings are misguided and seriously at odds, not just with what Wittgenstein says about religious belief, but with his entire later philosophy. This Element also argues that Wittgenstein presents us with an important ‘third way’ of understanding religious belief – one that does not fall into the trap of either assimilating religious beliefs to ordinary empirical beliefs or seeking to reduce them to the expression of certain attitudes.