グローバル教養科目（The Later Wittgenstein: Language & Meaning）

【Please note that you are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis in this course.】

The later Wittgenstein’s views about language and meaning, especially as presented in Philosophical Investigations, are among the most important arguments in twentieth century philosophy, exerting great influence not only over traditional philosophy, but also a diverse and widespread range of fields in the humanities, social sciences, and even cognitive science. This course will focus on Wittgenstein’s transition from the theory of language as a logical picture of reality outlined in the Tractatus—still in essence a dominant view of language—to his later understanding of language and meaning in terms of language’s use in social “language games”. The three most significant arguments for the development of this general view in Philosophical Investigations will be studied: meaning as use; considerations about rule following and the consequences for intentionality and representation; the impossibility of a private language. A general understanding of the later Wittgenstein’s anti-theoretical philosophical method and its anti-essentialist and anti-reductionist consequences will emerge.