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Core Units and Options at Level 10

PHI9HE - Wittgensteins's Later Philosophy

 

Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations , published in 1953 shortly after the author's death, is one of the most influential texts of 20th century philosophy.   Having little respect for the traditional divisions of the subject, it ranges over questions that arise in philosophical thought about language, thought, mind, and logic.   Its criss-crossing investigations of these issues exemplify a radical conception of the nature of philosophy:   philosophical problems, Wittgenstein holds, are characteristically the result and manifestation of deep confusions; a philosopher's proper task is therefore not to advance theoretical answers to philosophical questions, but to uncover the confusions that lead us to ask them; and this task is to be pursued by attention to the details of how philosophically problematic concepts are actually employed, and the roles they have in our lives.  

Students taking this unit will examine Wittgenstein's treatment of some of the central issues in the philosophy of language and mind, such as:

• What is a language?
• What is it for a word to mean what it does?
• How does the meaning of a word set standards or norms for its correct use?
• What is it to understand the meaning of a word?
• How do 'inner' experiences, thoughts, intentions and desires relate to the 'outer' behaviour that manifests them and the language in which they might be expressed?

 

Outcomes:

The unit aims to enable students to appreciate and to critically evaluate Wittgenstein's approach to these issues and the conception of philosophical enquiry it exemplifies. The unit further aims to improve critical reading, critical thinking, and oral communication skills through the seminar discussion and essay writing processes. (Refer to Section B of the Student Handbook for more details.)

Set text, and selected secondary reading:

Ludwig Wittgenstein	Philosophical Investigations	trans. E. Anscombe (Blackwell). (A new printing by Blackwell of the German text and English translation appeared in 2001.)
Antony Kenny	Wittgenstein	Penguin
Marie McGinn	Wittgenstein and the Philosophical Investigations	Routledge (Guidebook Series).

 

Availability:	Honours (Semester 6 or 8), BA in Philosophy, or General.
Prerequisite:	PHI9CA or PHI9CB
Assessment:	Coursework (one required essay) 50% ; examination (3 hours, 3 questions) 50%. Students may choose to submit a second essay to improve their grade.
Teaching Pattern:	2 one hour lectures and a 1 hour seminar each week
Regulation:	For the purposes of the University's attendance regulation 14, seminars are prescribed classes . The rationale for prescribing these classes may be found in the Philosophy Student Handbook, section F. This section also contains regulations relating to the submission of essays, and other matters.

 

Please contact Peter Sullivan if you would like to know more about this module.