form of life

is 'the system of reference by means of which we interpret an unknown language.

Forms of life can be understood as changing and contingent, dependent on culture, context, history, etc... this appeal to forms of life grounds a relativistic reading of Wittgenstein. On the other hand, it is the form of life common to humankind, 'shared human behavior' which is 'the system of reference by means of which we interpret an unknown language' (PI 206). This might be seen as a universalistic turn, recognizing that the use of language is made possible by the human form of life.'

is a life that can never be separated from its form, a life in which it is never possible to separate something such as bare life.

What I call a form-of-life is a life that can never be separated from its form, a life in which it is never possible to separate something such as bare life.' (Agamben interview German Law Journal)

is defined by the fact that it is a form created by and for those who are in possession of language.

Wittgenstein takes language to be the mark of human sociality: Hence human forms of life are defined by the fact that they are forms created by and for those who are in possession of language' (Das 1998:180)

is never a matter of shared opinions. Rather it involves the entanglements of customs, habits, rules and examples.

Agreement in forms of life, in Wittgenstein, is never a matter of shared opinions. It thus requires an excess of description to capture the entanglements of customs, habits, rules and examples' (Das 1998:179)

is not agreement in definitions or opinions, but rather, agreement in judgments.

It is not only agreement in definitions but also (odd as it may sound) in judgments that is required' (PI 242), and this is 'agreement not in opinions, but rather in form of life' (PI 241).

form of life, n.Definitions

form of life