Ep 14: Why We Can’t Agree: Wittgenstein and Language Games

We are looking at how conversations about theology and politics break down by analyzing Ludwig Wittgenstein’s classic work Philosophical Investigations. Wittgenstein argues that words have no stable meaning and that, like the rules of a game, people need to define terms during conversations if we want to be able to productively communicate with each other. We will then look at how F.A. Hayek recognizes that totalitarian regimes use the subjectivity of language to oppress people.

*This was originally supposed to be episode 10, which is why I sometimes say things like ‘last week’ and ‘next week’ referring to shows that I published weeks ago.

Episode Outline:

I. Why Conversations Fail

II. Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations (1953) 

III. Having Productive Conversations as Protestants and Libertarians

 Media Referenced:

The Future of Justification, John Piper

Justification, N.T. Wright

Philosophical Investigations, Ludwig Wittgenstein

The Road to Serfdom, F.A. Hayek


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