Neurath's boat

noun

An allegorical boat first described by Otto Neurath meant to illustrate an antifoundationalist conception of knowledge by likening it to a ship which can only be repaired by those already onboard.

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Meanings

nounNeurath's boat (plural Neurath's boats)

plural Neurath's boats

  1. An allegorical boat first described by Otto Neurath meant to illustrate an antifoundationalist conception of knowledge by likening it to a ship which can only be repaired by those already onboard.
Cite this entry
APA

Neurath's boat. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Neurath's%20boat

MLA

“Neurath's boat.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Neurath's%20boat. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Neurath's boat,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Neurath's%20boat.

Source: Neurath's boat on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.