Q0086
“What we do is to bring words back from their metaphysical to…” — Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations §116)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Philosophical Investigations §116. Theme: language.
English
What we do is to bring words back from their metaphysical to their everyday use.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Philosophical Investigations §116 and files it under Analytic Philosophy. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951), born in Vienna to a wealthy industrial family, studied engineering then logic with Russell at Cambridge. The Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1921) aimed to draw limits to sense; he then left academic philosophy for years as a teacher and architect’s assistant.
How to read this passage
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Ludwig Wittgenstein and Kwasi Wiredu), language is framed through Analytic Philosophy and Africana Philosophy. Some passages define language; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through language.
Concepts in this quote
- Language
- Language appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat language as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Ludwig Wittgenstein. (n.d.). What we do is to bring words back from their metaphysical to their everyday use. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0086
MLA: Ludwig Wittgenstein. “What we do is to bring words back….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0086.
Chicago: Ludwig Wittgenstein. “What we do is to bring words back….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0086.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “What we do is to bring words back…”?
The passage is attributed to Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations §116. The archive attributes this English wording to Philosophical Investigations §116 and files it under Analytic Philosophy. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Ludwig Wittgenstein mean by language?
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Ludwig Wittgenstein and Kwasi Wiredu), language is framed through Analytic Philosophy and Africana Philosophy. Some passages define language; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through language.