The notion of philosophy in Wittgenstein's later writings
Wittgenstein's later view of philosophy centres on the claims that philosophy can make no discoveries and that philosophy should aim to describe the use of language. This thesis explores the hypothesis that these claims arise from the account of the nature of the internal relation in the later writings. The thesis falls into three parts. The first part examines the picture theory of representation in the Tractatus; it is argued that the theory takes its shape from Wittgenstein's early view of internal relations. The grounds for the rejection of the picture theory in the later writings are discussed; the argument against a private language is held to be based on the objections to the picture theory. The second part of the thesis looks at the account of internal relatedness given in Wittgenstein's later writings. The failure of the picture theory leads to a non-realist account of the internal relation. A proposal to preserve realism based on a causal theory of representation is rejected and Kripke's account of Wittgenstein's position is criticised. The notions of a grammatical rule and a practice are the keys to the later theory. Grammatical rules depend on the existence of natural reactions to and with signs;
Blacklocks, Stephen Roy
Philosophy of Wittgenstein
The notion of philosophy in Wittgenstein's later writings. Wittgenstein's later view of philosophy centres on the claims that philosophy can make no discoveries and that philosophy should aim to describe the use of language. This thesis explores the hypothesis that these claims arise from the account of the nature of the internal relation in the later writings. The thesis falls into three parts. The first part examines the picture theory of representation in the Tractatus; it is argued that the theory takes its shape from Wittgenstein's early view of internal relations. The grounds for the rejection of the picture theory in the later writings are discussed; the argument against a private language is held to be based on the objections to the picture theory. The second part of the thesis looks at the account of internal relatedness given in Wittgenstein's later writings. The failure of the picture theory leads to a non-realist account of the internal relation. A proposal to preserve realism based on a causal theory of representation is rejected and Kripke's account of Wittgenstein's position is criticised. The notions of a grammatical rule and a practice are the keys to the later theory. Grammatical rules depend on the existence of natural reactions to and with signs;
notion philosophy wittgenstein_later writing wittgenstein_later view philosophy centre claim_philosophy make discovery philosophy aim_describe use language explores hypothesis claim arise account nature internal relation later writing fall_three part first_part examine picture theory representation tractatus argue theory take shape wittgenstein early view internal relation ground rejection picture theory later writing discuss argument private language hold base objection picture theory second_part look account internal relatedness give wittgenstein_later writing failure picture theory lead non_realist account internal relation proposal preserve realism base causal_theory representation reject kripke account wittgenstein position criticise notion grammatical rule practice key later theory grammatical rule depend existence natural reaction sign