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Hegel seems to me to be always wanting to say that things which look different are really the same. Whereas my interest is in showing that things which look the same are really different. I was thinking of using as a motto for my book a quotation from King Lear: 'I’ll teach you differences'. ... 'You’d be surprised' wouldn’t be a bad motto either.
Ludwig Wittgenstein
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Wittgenstein emphasizes the importance of recognizing differences between seemingly similar things.

In this quote, Wittgenstein contrasts his perspective with that of Hegel, suggesting that while Hegel focuses on the commonalities in appearances, he himself is more interested in highlighting the unique differences that often go unnoticed. This underscores the complexity in understanding the world, where two entities may appear identical at first glance but possess fundamental distinctions that deserve attention.

Themes

DifferencesSimilarityUnderstandingPerceptionPhilosophy

In practice

Example use cases

During a philosophy lecture discussing the nature of perception and reality.

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