Question

Which among the following statement(s) is/are compatible with Ludwig Wittgenstein’s position on ‘private language’ in his Philosophical Investigations?

• A. It is in accordance with the theory that ‘meaning is a mental process’ and ‘naming is a mental act’
• B. For each person, ‘pain’ acquires its meaning by being correlated with her/his own private sensation
• C. The English word ‘pain’ is not a word in a private language of the individual speaker of the language
• D. It is not by private ostensive definition that ‘pain’ becomes the name of a sensation

Hint:

Wittgenstein's theory of meaning emphasizes the importance of public use and shared practices in language, rejecting private definitions and private language.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C, D

Step 1: Wittgenstein’s critique of private language. 
In his work {Philosophical Investigations}, Wittgenstein critiques the notion of a 'private language' — a language that could only be understood by the individual speaker, tied to their private sensations. Wittgenstein argues that for a language to be meaningful, it must be publicly understandable, grounded in social interactions and shared practices. 
Step 2: Evaluating the options. 
(A) and (B) are incompatible with Wittgenstein’s position as they suggest that meaning can be a private mental process or tied to private sensations, which he rejects.
(C) is correct as Wittgenstein maintains that the word "pain" is not part of a private language but is a part of a shared public language.
(D) is also correct, as Wittgenstein emphasizes that words like "pain" gain their meaning through public use, not through private definitions that only make sense to one individual.