Leiden University Student Repository

Koot, Malte (2025)

Talking About What Cannot Be Expressed

Master thesis | Philosophy (MA) (60 EC)

Structural Ineffability is the thesis that there are facts that no human can ever express because our language cannot represent their structure. Firstly, I argue that this sceptical thesis is plausible by showing that it follows directly from realism about facts and epistemic modesty. Then, I argue that this thesis is coherent. My basic argument for this is as follows: Facts exist out there and are not just mind-dependent or linguistic entities. Therefore, we can quantify over them. In quantifying over a fact, I have not represented or expressed that fact. Thus, I can coherently state that there are facts which cannot be expressed. Finally, I argue that Structural Ineffability is not as worrisome as it seems. The more radical thesis that all facts are structurally ineffable is self-defeating. And using Moorean argumentation, I show that the facts we are currently expressing can actually be expressed.

Ineffable facts

Ontology of facts

Quantification

Limits of language

Metaphysics

Author

Koot, Malte

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Philosophy of Knowledge

Supervisors

Lipman, M.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl