Philosophical Grammar 9

9. Isn’t there a gap between an order and its application? “I understand it but only because I add something to it, namely, the interpretation.” – But if one were to say “any sentence still stands in need of an interpretation”, that would mean, no sentence can be understood without a rider.

any sentence still stand in need of an interpretation?

if someone puts a sentence to me the meaning of which I am not familiar with

I will question it – and likely get a reply –

and this process may go on –

until some kind of satisfaction is reached –

or the endeavour is put aside for another day

what we have in such a process is propositional action –

propositional interaction

logically speaking there is no end to this –

in practise there is –

this process – this action of language – is understanding

where we are familiar with a sentence –

we recognise that familiarity –

but even this – this recognition of familiarity –  of familiar use –

is itself language use –

propositional action

© greg t.charlton. 2014.