Religious Language: Language Games
Wittgenstein's approach to religious language: religious discourse constitutes a distinct language game with its own rules and internal logic. Religious language is meaningful within this game even if not empirically verifiable.
Real World
When a referee in football calls a foul, that judgment is only meaningful within the rules of football — a bystander unfamiliar with the game cannot evaluate it using cricket rules. Similarly, Wittgenstein argues that saying 'God forgives' is meaningful within the Christian form of life, not judged by scientific criteria.
Exam Focus
When 'assess' Wittgenstein, always evaluate the criticism that language games risk making religious claims immune to rational scrutiny.
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