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Funny that Wittgenstein is mentioned, but his "ladder" is not: "My propositions serve as elucidations in the following way: anyone who understands me eventuall
by alanbernstein 7y ago
Funny that Wittgenstein is mentioned, but his "ladder" is not:
"My propositions serve as elucidations in the following way: anyone who understands me eventually recognizes them as nonsensical, when he has used them - as steps - to climb up beyond them (he must, so to speak, throw away the ladder after he has climbed up it). He must transcend these propositions, and then he will see the world alright."
- lioeters 7y agoThat metaphor of the ladder - at least on the surface - has a parallel in Zen Buddhism. There's even a Koan about climbing to the top of a ladder, then taking one more step. It reminds me also of another famous expression, that language is the finger pointing at the moon. In that sense, one might say that Wittgenstein's propositions are also meant to be a finger that points to a truth beyond itself.
- alanbernstein 7y agoThat parallel is why this quote had such strong staying power for me. I don't know of another Western philosopher that describes so clearly a concept so similar to enlightenment.