Simons, Daniel; (2020) Understanding metaphilosophy to understand Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations. Masters thesis (M.Phil), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This thesis aims to explore the metaphilosophical insights in the Investigations, arguing for the importance of metaphilosophy and its critical importance for a satisfactory understanding Wittgenstein’s text. My central claim is that a persuasive picture of the work, as having two distinct aspects in tension, should be overcome. Frequently, the Investigations is portrayed as in tension between a positive (constructive) side and a negative (therapeutic) side. This means metaphilosophical analysis has been driven by attempts to comprehend these two aspects in a coherent understanding of the works method and aims. I argue that from this picture there has not been a satisfactory reading of the work, rejecting constructive and elucidatory views, and criticising the common characterisation of the therapeutic view. This limiting picture is overcome by exploring a radically therapeutic understanding, influenced by the work of later Baker. I show how by losing the two aspect picture, we can come to appreciate the text as having a conception of philosophy that has only one aim, which is best conceived as therapeutic. I then respond to two worries for the therapeutic view with two changes in emphasis. One tries to accommodate Wittgenstein’s concern with community and shared ways of acting, the other with the dialogical construction of the text. These aim to improve on Baker’s view without undermining its fundamental insights.

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