A hyper self-conscious attitude pervades “This Is Water,” which is an apotheosis of Wallace’s surgical philosophical thinking and critical gaze. He communicates many schools of thought at once, using humorous parables like the old fish and the atheist versus the religious man. Wallace also taps into philosophical history, particularly the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein, a significant 20th-century philosopher whose studies were concerned with language, particularly how things are communicated and how misunderstandings arise (Ryerson, James. “Philosophical Sweep.” Slate, 21 Dec. 2010). These ideas can be seen in the speech’s numerous angles of attack at the same problem: how people think.

Additionally, “This Is Water” has a Buddhist throughline that encourages the graduates to remain aware, be observant, and overcome their ignorance of life’s true nature. In doing so, the speech advocates for perspectivism, a theory promoted by 19th-century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche that submits that knowledge of something is limited by one’s point of view and interpretation. Wallace draws on all these sources to stress the truths “hidden in plain.” He employs self-effacing statements like “please don’t think I’m giving you moral advice” to break down the barrier between speaker and

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