May 8, 2004

• Slab!

  
  

  Aphorism 2 from Wittgenstein’s
  Philosophical Investigations
  with commentary on the right
  by Lois Shawver

  
  
  
  
  
  

  Let us imagine a language …The language is meant to serve for communication between a builder A and an assistant B.  A is building with building-stones; there are blocks, pillars, slabs and beams.  B has to pass the stones, and that in the order in which A needs them.  For this purpose they use a language consisting of the words ‘block’, ‘pillar’, ‘slab’, ‘beam.’  A calls them out; — B brings the stone which he has learnt to bring at such-and-such a call. — Conceive this as a complete primitive language.

  … this passage describes the prototypic primitive language-game…. There are piles of pillars, slabs, blocks and beams.  The supervisor calls out “Slab!” and the worker brings a slab and sets it at the supervisor’s feet.  Pretty simple. Wittgenstein puts forth [this] language-game in order to try to envision a language in which Augustine’s picture of language works.

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Click on pictures for details.
  
  

  • 9:00 am
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