Explanation Quote by Ludwig Wittgenstein
““Remember that we sometimes demand explanations for the sake not of their content, but of their form. Our requirement is an architectural one; the explanation a kind of sham corbel that supports nothing.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Philosophical Investigations, Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1953
Explanations are sometimes valued for their structure rather than content, acting as decorative supports that lack substance.
In simple terms: Form can be prized over meaning.
Key Takeaway
Focus on substance, not just style.
Themes
form vs. content
meaning
philosophical analysis
communication
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
skeptical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- legal arguments
- design presentations
- media analysis
Key Concepts
philosophy
linguistics
critical theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we prioritize elegant explanations?
- When does style hinder understanding?
A Different Perspective
Emphasis on form can obscure truth.
![“They [scientists of centuries past] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations, however, God gets hardly a mention.” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b0/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_century_they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-o_12921.jpg)
![“[Barack Obama] will spend long periods of time explaining to people why he won't use it. At the end of the explanation, nobody knows why he still won't use it because the explanation is no good. And I mean, honestly we have a president that in my opinion really doesn't know what he's doing.” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb3/donald-trump-18_barack_barack-obama-will-spend-long-periods-of_29283.jpg)
