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IS-MOBIL-Mobilitetsprogr.f.utl.Ph.D-stu

The Problem of Method in Wittgenstein's 'Philosophical Investigations'

Awarded: NOK 0.12 mill.

Project Number:

195517

Project Period:

2009 - 2010

Subject Fields:

My research project focuses on a problem of Wittgenstein interpretation that was coined (among other things) the 'Theory vs. Therapy debate' and was provoked largely by a fresh reading of the Tractatus proposed first by Cora Diamond in the 1980s and then further developed by a group of interpreters who came to be referred to as 'resolute readers'. The central tenet of the resolute reading is the insistence that both in Wittgenstein's early and late approaches he is strongly committed to the claims that 'P hilosophy is not a body of doctrine but an activity' (TLP 4.112) and that 'we may not advance any kind of theory' (PI §122) and the further insight that these metaphilosophical remarks, in fact, secure the genuine continuity of Wittgenstein's ouvre. In In vestigations §122 , Big Typescript §89 etc. Wittgenstein defines the method of philosophy as the production of übersichtliche Darstellungen of grammatical facts. One question here is whether the production of übersichtliche Darstellungen exhausts the prax is of philosophy or there are alternative methods. Another, more fundamental, issue concerns the very interpretation of the notion. According to P.M.S. Hacker, as a result of providing übersichtliche Darstellungen of our grammar we will eventually obtain an objective map of our grammatical landscape. On the other hand, one can argue that this is not too different from the logical analysis of the Tractatus (resulting in the final logical syntax of language) and here Wittgenstein has something entirely diff erent in mind. According to G.P. Baker's interpretation, übersichtliche Darstellungen are nothing but remedies for our philosophical "disquietudes", i.e. they qualify if and only if they achieve the required "peace of mind" by releasing the philosopher fr om the grip of a "philosophical picture", regardless of any objective value. I argue that Baker's reading can serve as an example of how something obviously close to a resolute interpretation can be taken seriously.

Funding scheme:

IS-MOBIL-Mobilitetsprogr.f.utl.Ph.D-stu