Words and Their Staging

According to Ludwig Wittgenstein thinking is "a widely ramified concept. A concept that comprises many manifestations of life. The phenomena of thinking are widely scattered." 

For example: 

"speak thoughtfully

speak without thought

think before speaking

speak before thinking

think while speaking

speak to yourself in imagination

think of someone

think of a solution to a puzzle

let a thought cross your mind."

etc etc

He points out that the word thought appears to correspond to a simple activity. However when it is used in different situations the word becomes "ragged." The reader has "a false picture." In other words it deceives us into believing because it is only one word "we think it represents one sort of activity." (ditto)

It is easy to forget that "a word's meaning depends upon its staging, the scene or circumstances in which it is used." Perhaps language is often taken for granted and one of the reasons why I read such books is to try and raise my awareness of just how potent words can be. 

"Once a word leaves your mouth, you cannot chase it back even with the swiftest horse."

(Confucious)

"The pen is mightier than the sword"

(Charles Dickens) 

 thought

Wittgenstein quotes from 'Introducing Wittgenstein' Icon Books (2010)