Abstract

Wittgenstein held that speaking a language is a rule-governed activity. He argued that following a rule presupposes the existence of a practice. It is unclear whether the concept of a practice that is invoked is that of a social practice—in which case, as Norman Malcolm argued, language is essentially social, or whether the concept of a practice allows for the practices of a solitary individual—in which case, as is argued here, language is essentially shareable, but need not actually be shared.