Wittgenstein, Empiricism, and Language (Hardcover)

John W. Cook

ISBN 10: 019513298X / ISBN 13: 9780195132984

Published by Oxford University Press Inc, New York, 1999

About this Item

Hardcover. 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 alsopoints 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 amore subtle appreciation of linguistic philosophy can yield valuable results. Cook exposes the ways in which Wittgenstein's philosophical views have been misunderstood, including the failure to recognize the reductionist character of Wittgenstein's work. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780195132984

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Wittgenstein, Empiricism, and Language (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc, New York
• Publication Date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 019513298X
• ISBN 13: 9780195132984
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

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.

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)