Wittgenstein's On Certainty establishes that some propositions function as bedrock certainties that stand fast for us, structuring our language-games rather than requiring independent justification.

?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.

No one has weighed in yet. Be the first to share reasons for or against this statement.

Key Terms

Bedrock certainties(Wittgenstein's central concept): Beliefs so fundamental and basic that we don't question them—like 'I have a body' or 'objects don't just disappear'—that serve as the foundation for everything else we think and say.
Language-games(the framework that bedrock certainties structure): Wittgenstein's idea that language works like a game with its own rules—different situations (like asking for directions vs. telling a joke) have different 'rules' for how words are used.
On Certainty(The specific philosophical work being referenced): A book Wittgenstein wrote near the end of his life that explores what we can be absolutely sure about and how certainty actually works in real life, rather than just in theory.
Stand fast(describing how bedrock certainties function): To remain fixed and unshakeable; in this context, it means these foundational beliefs stay in place and aren't questioned in normal circumstances.

Next step

Based on where you are in your exploration

Explore a random proposition

Start fresh with something unrelated.

Wittgenstein

Ludwig Wittgenstein was an Austrian-British philosopher who fundamentally changed how people think about language and meaning in the 20th century. He argued that many philosophical problems arise from misunderstanding how words actually work in everyday life, rather than from deep metaphysical mysteries. His ideas influenced not just philosophy but also mathematics, logic, and even how people approach psychology and artificial intelligence today.

independent justification(Epistemology of justification transmission)

Justification that appears intuitively independent of the original justification for a proposition q; more precisely, transmitted justification for q that is additional and independent when three counterfactual conditions are met: the subject was already justified in believing q before acquiring the new evidence, remains justified during acquisition, and would have gained a first-time justification via transmission had no prior justification existed

Wittgenstein's On Certainty establishes that some propositions function as bedrock certainties that stand fast for us, structuring our language-games rather than requiring independent justification.

Next step

Connections

Related

Details

Open for perspectives