Wittgenstein, Empiricism, and Language

by John W. Cook

Overview

This provocative study exposes the ways in which Wittgenstein's philosophical views have been misunderstood, including the failure to recognize the reductionist character of Wittgenstein's work. Author John Cook provides well-documented proof that Wittgenstein did not hold views commonly attributed to him, arguing that Wittgenstein's later work was mistakenly seen as a development of G. E. Moore's philosophy--which Wittgenstein in fact vigorously attacked. He also points to an underestimation of Russell's influence on Wittgenstein's thinking. Cook goes on to show how these misunderstandings have had grave consequences for philosophy at large, and proposes that a more subtle appreciation of linguistic philosophy can yield valuable results.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195343991
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/04/1999
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Lexile:	1370L (what's this?)
File size:	645 KB

About the Author

University of Oregon

Table of Contents

PrefaceList of AbbreviationsIntroductionPart I: The Way Out of the Flytrap1.. The Subject Matter of Philosophy2.. Empiricism and the Flight from Solipsism3.. Theories and Descriptions4.. Speakers and Noise Makers5.. Reductionism and InflationPart II: Reductionism and Criteria6.. The Ontological and Linguistic Aims of Reductionism7.. A Russellian Argument and Wittgensteinian Criteria8.. The Concept of Criteria9.. What Criteria Cannot BePart III: Philosophy and Language10.. Standard Ordinary Language Philosophy11.. Moore's Method12.. Wittgenstein and the Metaphysical Use of Words13.. Metaphysical Ordinary Language Philosophy14.. Investigative Ordinary Language Philosophy15.. Investigative AppearancesAppendixName IndexSubject Index

Editorial Reviews

"This is a very good book. It is short but very well documented; the references are many, telling, and often clinching. It is clearly written and argued, and it has extraordinary thesis....Cook's book performed, for me, the invaluable service of renewing my interest in Wittgenstein and causing me to re-think my understanding of him....Buy this book, and recommend it to students."—International Philosophical Quarterly

From the Publisher