What does the word ‘box’ mean? Think, pair, share What does the word ‘box’ mean?

Evaluation of Wittgenstein’s Language Games

To be able to evaluate Wittgenstein’s language games. Learning Outcomes To be able to evaluate Wittgenstein’s language games.

Language Games? Read through the article and summarise it in 5 key sentences: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Stretch yourself: What is Fideism? How does it relate to language games? What are the problems of fideism?

Language Games and Religion The theory of language games could be important because of the connection it makes with the ‘coherence theory of truth’. This is the view that statements are true if they fit with other statements and beliefs which are internally consistent. You could argue that the ‘game’ of religious language cannot be criticised because internally it is coherent. Religious views fit with other religious views. Perhaps religion is just a ‘language game’, and it will all make sense if we just participate. The danger of this is that it could be too relativistic, allowing that any claims are equally valid. It also doesn’t explain how we could challenge truth claims. Also, it’s not quite clear whether Wittgenstein thought of religion as a ‘language game’. He had a certain respect for religion, but wrote little about it himself. Fideism: Faith is more important than reason...

Groundless beliefs? In On Certainty, Wittgenstein showed that language makes statements that are groundless. For example, we cannot justify the statement ‘this is a piece of paper’. We cannot find reasoning to why we call it this. Definitions are ‘groundless’ beliefs but they shape the way we see the world. He argued religious belief shapes the way the world is seen in a similar way. Our beliefs on whether or not there is a Day of Judgement for example will be groundless. However, they shape the way we think and the decisions we make. As with a game, according to Wittgenstein, the more people who participate in religious behaviour the more they will understand in it’s special meanings.

Wittgensteinian Fideism Critics of this view have pointed out, however, that if meaning is defined as "that which makes sense within the rules of the game", then it almost seems as if the rules themselves are exempt from criticism. This view identifies what it calls "Wittgensteinian Fideism", where Fideism is belief which is unfounded and therefore immune from rational criticism.

D.Z Phillips A response to this has been supplied by D. Z. Phillips who argues that although religious belief is a "game", which must be taken on its own terms, the game itself need not appeal to everyone. Just as some people prefer cricket to football, so some are atheists whilst others are religious believers. Religious Language is meaningful for those who genuinely use it and it does not need to be justified to those who do not participate in the game. But doesn't this reduce everything to a matter of taste or inclination?

Searching for meaning... How did Wittgenstein's view of language influence Logical Positivism? What did he decide was wrong with this initial viewpoint? What new definition of meaning did he put forward in his later views? What metaphor does he use to do it? What is the main criticism of Wittgenstein's later views? What is "Wittgensteinian Fideism"? What is D. Z. Phillip's response to this? Stretch yourself: Do you agree with it?

Evaluation zig-zag Complete the zig-zag in your notes. How fair is the claim that religious language is meaningless? For Against Stretch yourself: To reach a better A02 grade you must always link your arguments. E.g. However D.Z Phillips would disagree with Wittgenstein because….. For Against

Think, Pair, Share A: Rules B:Observation A: Fideism B:D.Z Phillips