Concept
Ineffability
Overview
Ineffability is the quality of something that surpasses the capacity of language to express it, often being in the form of a taboo or incomprehensible term. This property is commonly associated with philosophy, theology, aspects of existence, and similar concepts that are inherently "too great", complex or abstract to be communicated adequately. Illogical statements, principles, reasons and arguments may be considered intrinsically ineffable along with impossibilities, contradictions and paradoxes.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
As ent’ring there we turn’d, voices, in strain Ineffable, sang: “Blessed are the poor In spirit.” Ah how far unlike to these The straits of hell; here songs to usher us, There shrieks of woe!
Dante Alighieri, Divine Comedy, Cary's Translation, Purgatory
Close in meaning to Ineffability; the term itself is not named.
Now that the two ineffable parts of this matter have been discussed, we must proceed to discuss words that describe my insufficiency. I say, then, that my insufficiency arises from a double cause, even as in a twofold manner the exalted nature of my Lady surpasses all, in the way which has been told.
Dante Alighieri, The Banquet
Close in meaning to Ineffability; the term itself is not named.
The latter talent is properly speaking what is called spirit; for to express the ineffable element in the state of mind implied by a certain representation and to make it universally communicable--whether the expression be in speech or painting or statuary--this requires a faculty of seizing the quickly passing play of Imagination and of unifying it in a concept (which is even on that account original and discloses…
Immanuel Kant, Kant's Critique of Judgement
States what Ineffability is.
Philosophers who discussed Ineffability
Related ideas
- Philosophy
- Heaven
- Latin
- Thomas Aquinas
- Ontology
- Paradox
- Athenagoras of Athens
- Sin
- Abstraction
- Experience
- Theology
- Ignorance
- Ousia
- Tertullian
- Symbol
- Dogma
- Logic
- Taboo
- Clement of Alexandria
- Contradiction
- Infinity (philosophy)
- Catholic theology
- Profanity
Place in the tradition
Part of Analytic philosophy.