Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus vs Language-Games

The Meaning of a Word

graph TD
    A[Word] --> B{How is meaning determined?};

    B -- "Correct (Language-Games)
Meaning is Use" --> C[Use in an Activity];
    B -. "Incorrect (Tractatus)
Meaning is Reference" .-> D(x Object x);

    style C fill:#e6ffed,stroke:#2a6e3d,stroke-width:2px
    style D fill:#ffe6e6,stroke:#a33,stroke-width:2px,color:#a33

Mixing Language Games

graph TD
    subgraph "Basketball Language-Game"
        A("Statement:
'Grab the boards!'")
    end

    subgraph "Physics Language-Game"
        B("Underlying Rule/Fact:
'A solid object is mostly empty space.'")
    end

    C{Misapplication of Rules};

    A -- "is judged by rules from..." --> C;
    B -- "...the Physics Language-Game" --> C;

    C --> D["Result: Meaningless Confusion
(e.g., 'But he didn't even touch the wooden backboard!')"];

    style D fill:#ff9999,stroke:#a33,stroke-width:2px;

No Super Language

graph TD
    subgraph "Incorrect (Tractatus): A Single 'Super Language' Governs All"
        direction TB
        A(Universal Logical Language) --> B(Science);
        A --> C(Ethics);
        A --> D(Poetry);
    end

    subgraph "Correct (Language-Games): A Web of Equal, Autonomous Games"
        direction TB
        E(Science) --- F(Woodworking);
        F --- G(Religion);
        G --- H(Jokes);
        H --- E;
        E --- G;
    end

    linkStyle 4 5 6 7 8 stroke-width:2px,stroke:blue,stroke-dasharray: 5 5;

The Function of Language: Picture vs. Toolbox

graph TD
    subgraph "Tractatus: Picture Theory of Language"
        direction TB
        A[Word] -->|Represents| B((Object in Reality));
        C[Proposition] -->|Pictures| D((State of Affairs));
        E((Core Idea:
Language has ONE primary function:
to state facts.));
    end

    subgraph "Language-Games: Meaning is Use"
        direction TB
        F[Word] --> G{Used in a context...};
        G --> H["Ordering ('Water!')"];
        G --> I["Describing ('The water is cold.')"];
        G --> J["Questioning ('Water?')"];
        K((Core Idea:
Language is a toolbox with MANY functions.));
    end

The Structure of Language: A Single Logic vs. Countless Games

graph TD
    subgraph "Tractatus: A Single, Ideal Structure"
        direction TB
        A(Universal Logical Form) --> B(Language A);
        A --> C(Language B);
        A --> D(Language C);
        E[All language is reducible to a single, rigid logic.]
    end

    subgraph "Language-Games: A Network of Activities"
        direction TB
        F((Science)) --- G((Religion));
        G --- H((Jokes));
        H --- I((Poetry));
        I --- F;
        G --- I;
        J[Language is a web of diverse, overlapping practices with no single center.]
    end

The Nature of Concepts: Essence vs. Family Resemblance

graph TD
    subgraph "Tractatus: The Search for Essence"
        direction TB
        A["Concept: 'Game'"] --> D{"The Shared Essence of 'Game-ness'"};
        B["Board Games"] --> D;
        C["Card Games"] --> D;
        E["Ball Games"] --> D;
    end

    subgraph "Language-Games: Family Resemblance"
        direction TB
        F["Board Games"] --- |"Rules, Competition"| G["Card Games"];
        G --- |"Skill, Luck"| H["Ball Games"];
        H --- |"Physical Activity, Rules"| F;
        I["No single feature is common to ALL, but a network of overlapping traits links them."];
    end

The Role of Philosophy: Architect vs. Therapist

graph TD
    subgraph "Tractatus: Philosophy as Construction"
        direction TB
        A(Philosopher as Architect) -->|Builds| B(A Perfect Logical Framework);
        B -->|To Solve| C(Metaphysical Problems);
        C --> D{Final Answer};
    end

    subgraph "Language-Games: Philosophy as Therapy"
        direction TB
        E(Philosopher as Therapist) -->|Untangles| F(A Knot of Linguistic Confusion);
        F -->|To Dissolve| G(The Metaphysical 'Problem');
        G --> H{The Problem Disappears};
    end