Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Philosophy, Language, Pluralism

Wittgenstein's declaration, at #124 of the Investigations, "Philosophy may in no way interfere with the actual use of language; it can end the end only describe it", contrasts noticeably with #309: "What is your aim in philosophy?  To show the fly the way out of the bottle."  For, the former issues a categorical fiat regarding Philosophy, while the latter personalizes his project in the Investigations.  But, a main theme of that project is a Pluralistic concept of Language, in the context of which, therefore, a univocal concept of Philosophy seems anomalous, at best.  So, from the perspective of the more appropriate #309, there is at least one actual use of Language with which Wittgenstein should have interfered--his own, in #124.

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