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Work #114 · Latest

On Certainty

Ludwig Wittgenstein
Written 1949–51 (in Wittgenstein's final eighteen months); published posthumously 1969 · German
Aphoristic notebook entries — 676 numbered remarks · Analytic philosophy / late-late Wittgenstein

The foundations of empirical knowledge lie in our forms of life — and our framework certainties cannot themselves be doubted within the system that depends on them

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute On Certainty (Latest)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Relational
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Relational
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Relational
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Immediate
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Immediate
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Active
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Experience
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Relational
Information · Cosmic Conservation Non-conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Non-conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

On Certainty

Hinge certainties stand fast across temporal questioning. Time is real, relational, embedded in our practices.

Space

On Certainty

Standard everyday space; not theorised philosophically.

Matter

On Certainty

Real material objects are part of our framework certainties — "Here is a hand."

Observer

On Certainty

The On-Certainty observer is the embodied human whose certainties are embedded in forms of life — plural, active in practice. No metaphysical agency.

Energy

On Certainty

Not engaged.

Information

On Certainty

Framework certainties are the relational hinges of inquiry. No personal-conservation commitment.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

On Certainty

On Certainty represents a third Wittgenstein author-stage — distinct from both Tractatus and Investigations. The three-stage trajectory is now classifiable on this site as a compare-triple. The work's relation to the Investigations has been disputed: continuation, refinement, or substantive new direction.