[lit-ideas] Re: Locating Friere's foot

  • From: "Walter C. Okshevsky" <wokshevs@xxxxxx>
  • To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Robert Paul <rpaul@xxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 16:09:12 -0230

Quoting Robert Paul <rpaul@xxxxxxxx>:

snip

> Wittgenstein wrote in the Investigations that '[p]hilosophical problems 
> arise when language goes on holiday.'


Not being the clearest of philosophers, W once again offers us a number of
hermeneutic choices. Which propositions below logically follow from W's
brilliant aphorism above? Let the games begin! (Contestants are free to add
their own propositions. First prize: two all expense paid weeks in Red Deer,
Alberta. Second Prize: .......)

1. All philosophical problems arise when language goes on holiday.
2. Some philosophical problems arise when language goes on holiday.
3. Philosophical problems always arise when language goes on holiday.
4. Philosophical problems sometimes arise when language goes on holiday.
5. Roman Holiday raises many philosophical problems.
6. When language is in the saddle, no philosophical problems ever arise.
7. When language is in the saddle, no philosophical problems can arise.
8. When language is in the saddle, some philosophical problems still arise.
9. Language is never in the saddle and no philosophical problems exist.
10. There is only one serious philosophical problem and it ain't language.
11. If you speak a natural language clearly and fluently, you don't need to
study philosophy.
12. If you find philosophical problems compelling, you don't speak your native
language too good.
13. If you have a semantic lexicon the size of Hemingway's, you have no
philosophical problems.
14. If you are lost in the jungle and you encounter a group of natives wearing
tiny skulls on vines around their necks, and they greet you heartily and
embrace you hungrily, your problem is not a philosophical problem. (Suggestion:
assume evry utterance they make is true.)
15. If you find Quine's philosophical problems with "Gavagai" interesting, you
should not be living in a linguistic community.
16. Language is the Condo of Being
17. It is not we who speak philosophically but rather language that speaks us
(behind our backs even.)
18. If you are a philosopher born into the French language, you should not
address philosophical problems. 



At the end of the Summer term, having just celebrated with Julia Child/Meryl
Streep,

Cheers, Walter









> 
> According to the alumni directory, Klaus Heilmayr, as he called himself, 
> got an MA in math, and a PhD in 'science,' from UC Berkeley. He now 
> lives in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Alas, I've lost touch with him.
> 
> Robert Paul
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