Wittgenstein, Empiricism, and Language - Hardcover

Cook, John W.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 019513298X ISBN 13: 9780195132984

Publisher: OUP USA, 1999

Synopsis

This provocative study exposes the ways in which Wittgenstein's philosophical views have been misunderstood, including the failure to recognize the reductionist character of Wittgenstein's work. Author John Cook provides well-documented proof that Wittgenstein did not hold views commonly attributed to him, arguing that Wittgenstein's later work was mistakenly seen as a development of G. E. Moore's philosophy--which Wittgenstein in fact vigorously attacked. He also points to an underestimation of Russell's influence on Wittgenstein's thinking. Cook goes on to show how these misunderstandings have had grave consequences for philosophy at large, and proposes that a more subtle appreciation of linguistic philosophy can yield valuable results.

About this title

Review

This is a very good book. It is short but very well documented; the references are many, telling, and often clinching. It is clearly written and argued, and it has extraordinary thesis....Cook's book performed, for me, the invaluable service of renewing my interest in Wittgenstein and causing me to re-think my understanding of him....Buy this book, and recommend it to students. (International Philosophical Quarterly)

Edition details

• Publisher: OUP USA
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 019513298X
• ISBN 13: 9780195132984
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 240