Ineffability: Difference between revisions
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{{For|the notion from set theory|Ineffable cardinal}} | {{For|the notion from set theory|Ineffable cardinal}} | ||
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'''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.<ref name="stanford">{{cite encyclopedia|last2=Jones|first2=Richard|last1=Gellman|first1=Jerome|title=Mysticism: Ineffability|url=https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mysticism/#Inef|encyclopedia=The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2022 Edition)|date=29 June 2022}}</ref> This property is commonly associated with [[philosophy]], | '''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.<ref name="stanford">{{cite encyclopedia|last2=Jones|first2=Richard|last1=Gellman|first1=Jerome|title=Mysticism: Ineffability|url=https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mysticism/#Inef|encyclopedia=The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2022 Edition)|date=29 June 2022}}</ref> This property is commonly associated with [[philosophy]], [[theology]], [[ontology|aspects of existence]], and similar concepts that are inherently "too great", complex or [[Abstraction|abstract]] to be communicated adequately. [[Logic|Illogical]] statements, principles, reasons and arguments may be considered intrinsically ineffable along with [[Logical possibility|impossibilities]], [[contradictions]] and [[paradoxes]]. | ||
==Etymology== | |||
The term come from [[Latin]] ''ineffabilis'' is composed of the prefix ''in-'', meaning 'not', and adjective ''effabilis'', meaning 'capable of being expressed'. | |||
==Philosophy== | |||
Terminology describing the nature of [[experience]] cannot be conveyed properly in dualistic [[symbol]]ic language; it is believed that this knowledge is only held by the individual from whom it originates. [[Profanity]] and [[vulgarism]]s can easily and clearly be stated, but by those who believe they should not be said, they are considered ineffable. Thus, one method of describing something that is ineffable is by using [[apophasis]], i.e. describing what it is ''not'', rather than what it ''is''. | |||
==Rhetorical and literary usage== | |||
In rhetorical and literary studies, ineffability has also been analyzed as a conventional stylistic and argumentative pattern, often referred to as [[The topos of ineffability]] (German: ''Unsagbarkeitstopos''). | |||
In | ==Theology== | ||
In [[Roman Catholic theology]], the ineffability of God is affirmed by the [[First Vatican Council]]'s apostolic constitution ''[[Dei Filius]]'': | |||
{{quote|The holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church believes and confesses that there is one true and living God, Creator and Lord of [[heaven]] and earth, almighty, eternal, immense, ''incomprehensible'', infinite in intelligence, in will, and in all perfection, who, as being one, sole, absolutely simple and immutable spiritual [[Ousia|substance]], is to be declared as really and essentially distinct from the world, of supreme beatitude in and from Himself, and ''ineffably exalted above all things which exist, or are conceivable, except Himself''.|[https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/creeds2.v.ii.i.html Dei Filius], Chapter I}} | {{quote|The holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church believes and confesses that there is one true and living God, Creator and Lord of [[heaven]] and earth, almighty, eternal, immense, ''incomprehensible'', infinite in intelligence, in will, and in all perfection, who, as being one, sole, absolutely simple and immutable spiritual [[Ousia|substance]], is to be declared as really and essentially distinct from the world, of supreme beatitude in and from Himself, and ''ineffably exalted above all things which exist, or are conceivable, except Himself''.|[https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/creeds2.v.ii.i.html Dei Filius], Chapter I}} | ||
God's ineffability deals with His being [[Infinity (philosophy)#Augustine|infinite]], invisible and incomprehensible. | God's ineffability deals with His being [[Infinity (philosophy)#Augustine|infinite]], invisible and incomprehensible. | ||
This [[dogma|dogmatic]] definition comes from a longtime tradition: [[Tertullian]], [[Athenagoras of Athens]], and [[Clement of Alexandria]] | This [[dogma|dogmatic]] definition comes from a longtime tradition: [[Tertullian]], [[Athenagoras of Athens]], and [[Clement of Alexandria]] held that ineffability is a property of God.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1669-27212014000100003|author=Raúl Kerbs|title=Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers God and Creation|volume=26|issue=2|ISSN=1669-2721|journal=Enfoques|date=June 1, 2014|access-date=January 25, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250125215020/https://web.archive.org/web/20200714172628/https://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1669-27212014000100003|archive-date=January 25, 2025|OCLC=9523170712|url-status=live|publisher=[[SciELO]]}}. Quote: "For Athenagoras and Tertullian, God is the truly real, one, eternal or timeless, ineffable and impassible...If it is supposed that biblical texts and Greek sources have similar meaning, Clement described God as invisible, ineffable, inexpressible by human concepts, indivisible, infinite, bearing no figure, time, movement, place or name."</ref> [[Thomas Aquinas]]' ''Prayer before Study'', ''[[Creator ineffabilis]]'', addresses God as ineffable whilst also seeking to overcome both [[ignorance]] and [[sin]].<ref>Michael, William C., [https://classicalliberalarts.com/blog/prayer-before-studying-by-st-thomas-aquinas/ Prayer before Studying, by St. Thomas Aquinas], ''Classical Liberal Arts Academy'', accessed on 11 May 2026</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| Line 25: | Line 26: | ||
* [[Atopy (philosophy)]] | * [[Atopy (philosophy)]] | ||
* [[Apophatic theology|Apophatic (or "negative") theology]] | * [[Apophatic theology|Apophatic (or "negative") theology]] | ||
* [[Ideasthesia]] | * [[Ideasthesia]] | ||
* [[Implicit knowledge]] | * [[Implicit knowledge]] | ||
* [[Meaning (linguistics)]] | * [[Meaning (linguistics)]] | ||
* [[True name]] | * [[True name]] | ||
* [[Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus#Proposition 7 | * [[Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus#Proposition 7]]: "Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent" (Wittgenstein) | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 13:58, 27 June 2026
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Script error: No such module "Unsubst". 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.[1] 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.
Etymology
The term come from Latin ineffabilis is composed of the prefix in-, meaning 'not', and adjective effabilis, meaning 'capable of being expressed'.
Philosophy
Terminology describing the nature of experience cannot be conveyed properly in dualistic symbolic language; it is believed that this knowledge is only held by the individual from whom it originates. Profanity and vulgarisms can easily and clearly be stated, but by those who believe they should not be said, they are considered ineffable. Thus, one method of describing something that is ineffable is by using apophasis, i.e. describing what it is not, rather than what it is.
Rhetorical and literary usage
In rhetorical and literary studies, ineffability has also been analyzed as a conventional stylistic and argumentative pattern, often referred to as The topos of ineffability (German: Unsagbarkeitstopos).
Theology
In Roman Catholic theology, the ineffability of God is affirmed by the First Vatican Council's apostolic constitution Dei Filius: Template:Quote
God's ineffability deals with His being infinite, invisible and incomprehensible.
This dogmatic definition comes from a longtime tradition: Tertullian, Athenagoras of Athens, and Clement of Alexandria held that ineffability is a property of God.[2] Thomas Aquinas' Prayer before Study, Creator ineffabilis, addresses God as ineffable whilst also seeking to overcome both ignorance and sin.[3]
See also
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- Atopy (philosophy)
- Apophatic (or "negative") theology
- Ideasthesia
- Implicit knowledge
- Meaning (linguistics)
- True name
- Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus#Proposition 7: "Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent" (Wittgenstein)
References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".. Quote: "For Athenagoras and Tertullian, God is the truly real, one, eternal or timeless, ineffable and impassible...If it is supposed that biblical texts and Greek sources have similar meaning, Clement described God as invisible, ineffable, inexpressible by human concepts, indivisible, infinite, bearing no figure, time, movement, place or name."
- ↑ Michael, William C., Prayer before Studying, by St. Thomas Aquinas, Classical Liberal Arts Academy, accessed on 11 May 2026
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