What Do Words Really Mean?
And Why That Matters More Than Ever in 2025
I’m a bit of a philosophy nerd but I’ve struggled to really get to grips with the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein. He was an enigmatic philosopher who made major contributions to our understanding of language, especially in how words gain meaning and how language shapes our view of the world. During his lifetime he only published one work Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1921).This was written while he was serving as a soldier in World War I. It focused on how language represents reality and argued that philosophy should focus only on what can be clearly expressed in logical terms. He famously concluded with the line:
“Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.”
After publishing it, Wittgenstein believed he had solved all philosophical problems and abandoned academic philosophy for years.
But as he thought about this he started to reject the ideas in the Tractatus. Although he wrote extensively, Wittgenstein was a perfectionist and reluctant to publish so Philosophical Investigations (1953), was only published after his death. This rejected his earlier ideas and introduced the famous concept of language games — the idea that the meaning of words depends on how they are used in different social contexts.
So with all that’s going on today, especially in America with Trump being re-elected and Musk his defacto Prime Minister, I wondered why this could be interesting today.
Have you ever noticed how political debates never seem to go anywhere?How two people can argue for hours and never actually disagree — they’re just using the same words differently?
That’s not just frustrating — it’s a sign that we’re living in a world where language itself is being manipulated. And if you’ve ever wondered why it feels impossible to separate truth from spin these days, Wittgenstein maybe able to help.
In simple terms? Words don’t mean what you think they mean. And in 2025, that’s more important than ever.
Trump, Musk, and the Power of Language Games
Wittgenstein argued that words don’t have fixed meanings — instead, they get their meaning from how they’re used. He compared language to a set of games: different people use words in different ways, depending on what they’re trying to achieve. And if you want a modern masterclass in language games, look no further than Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
Trump: Rewriting Reality, One Slogan at a Time
Trump’s entire political career has been built on redefining words to fit his own narrative. He doesn’t just use language — he reshapes it so that once-neutral words become weapons.
Take “fake news.” It used to mean deliberately false stories. Now? It’s become a catch-all phrase for anything Trump doesn’t like. If a journalist publishes something critical? Fake news. If a poll shows him losing? Fake news.
It’s not just spin — it’s a fundamental shift in meaning, making it impossible to argue with him on normal terms. If truth itself is up for debate, then every argument is already lost.
Other examples?
“Election fraud” — No evidence? Doesn’t matter. The word itself becomes the message.
“Witch hunt” — Turns legal investigations into political persecution, regardless of facts.
“America First” — Simple, effective, but what does it actually mean?
This is pure Wittgenstein. Trump doesn’t just say things; he plays a language game where meaning is fluid, emotional, and impossible to pin down. But I’m pretty sure that Trump isn’t a student of Wittgenstein. He’s just … well, he’s Trump!
Musk: Billionaire Meme Lord Who Moves Markets
Elon Musk plays a very different language game, but the effect is the same — he controls meaning to suit his own goals.
Musk has mastered the art of blending tech-speak, humour, and outrage to shape how people see him. He doesn’t talk like a CEO — he tweets like an internet troll, and that makes him relatable to millions.
Look at some of the phrases he’s introduced into the mainstream:
“Woke mind virus” — A deliberately vague term that makes progressive values sound like a disease.
“Free speech absolutist” — Sounds principled, but only applies when it suits him.
“Doge to the moon!” — A joke? Maybe. But also a market-moving phrase that can literally change the price of cryptocurrency.
What Musk does brilliantly is play multiple language games at once. To some, he’s a tech visionary. To others, he’s an anti-establishment rebel. To his critics, he’s just a chaotic billionaire.
The trick? He never commits to one meaning. That’s why his fans love him and his critics can never quite land a solid argument against him.
Geopolitics and the Fight Over Words
It’s not just individuals who play these games — entire countries do it too.
Take the word “democracy.”
The UK and US say democracy means elections, free speech, and human rights.
China talks about “democracy with Chinese characteristics”, where the government claims to represent the people without elections.
Same word, completely different meanings. Each side uses it to justify their own system, making it impossible to agree on a definition.
Or take “security” in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Russia says it invaded Ukraine for its own security.
NATO says Ukraine must be defended for global security.
Both sides use the same word to mean totally opposite things. And in a world where language is constantly being reshaped, the battle over definitions is just as important as the battle on the ground.
So What Can We Do About It?
At this point, you might be wondering: if everyone is playing language games, how do we know what’s real?
Well, that’s exactly why Wittgenstein matters. His philosophy isn’t about making words meaningless — it’s about recognising when language is being manipulated and questioning what’s really going on.
Here’s how to apply it:
Stop assuming words mean what you think they mean. Instead, ask: “How is this word being used, and what does the person using it want me to believe?”
Recognise when arguments are really about definitions. If two people are arguing about “freedom”, the first step is to ask what they actually mean by it.
Be sceptical of vague but powerful phrases. Terms like “common sense,” “fake news,” “freedom,” “security,” and “the will of the people” are often empty shells that can mean whatever the speaker wants them to mean.
The best way to fight back? Refuse to play the game on their terms.
Final Thought: The World is a Battlefield of Words
In 2025, language is more powerful than ever. Whether it’s Trump redefining truth, Musk shaping markets, or world leaders twisting words to justify wars, the fight over meaning is the fight that really matters.
The question is: Are you just accepting words at face value? Or are you paying attention to how they’re being used? Because if there’s one thing Wittgenstein taught us, it’s that words don’t just describe reality — they create it. And in a world where reality itself is up for debate, that’s a lesson worth remembering.