Materials Quote by J. L. Austin
“In one sense 'there are' both universals and material objects, in another sense there is no such thing as either: statements about each can usually be analysed, but not always, nor always without remainder.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Philosophical Investigations, 1953
The quote argues that universals and material objects are conceptual tools that can be analyzed but never fully captured without leftover ambiguities.
In simple terms: Concepts and objects are partly analyzable but always leave some mystery.
Key Takeaway
Accept limits of analysis.
Themes
philosophy
ontology
language
analysis
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
analytical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- teaching philosophy
- writing papers
- critical thinking
Key Concepts
conceptual analysis
metaphysics
semantic theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we know when analysis is complete?
- What remains after we strip away language?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that universals are real entities, contradicting the claim of no absolute.
![“Organized religion has a part in the evolution of personal religion. It is the material upon which personal religion is grafted, but the process of grafting must be individual. Every human soul must, through thought, prayer, and study, cultivate his [sic] own religion to suit himself.” quote by Lily Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7f3/lily-montagu-82141_evolution_organized-religion-has-a-part-in-the-evo_7761.jpg)