picture theory

Picture theory, developed by philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, suggests that language functions like a picture or map of reality. The idea is that sentences represent states of affairs in the world by mirroring their structure, much like a diagram or a snapshot. When we say something meaningful, it corresponds to a possible situation, allowing us to picture or model reality through language. This theory helps explain how language can depict facts about the world, bridging the gap between symbolic words and real-world meaning by aligning linguistic structures with actual states of affairs.