Wittgenstein on language, mind and mythology

Stephen Hilmy

pp. 235-248

in: Rosaria Egidi (ed), Wittgenstein, Berlin, Springer, 1995

Abstract

The notions of language, mind and mythology are intertwined in certain passages in Wittgenstein's later writings. Even when these intertwined themes are not expressly identified, their intertwinement often seems to serve as a general thematic backdrop for many of Wittgenstein's later philosophical deliberations. However, there is a danger of misinterpreting the intertwinement of these themes in Wittgenstein's later philosophy as an indication that he shared the outlook of others who have tended to intertwine these themes in their writings. This danger is especially acute, because the intertwinement of these themes in the writings of others has tended to be intimately linked to an outlook which runs counter to some of the central critical thrusts of Wittgenstein's later philosophy. This paper offers some reflections on the nature of the intertwinement of the themes of language, mind and mythology in Wittgenstein's later writings, and examines the import of that intertwinement for an appreciation of his later philosophy, and in particular his fairly recently published volumes of remarks in the philosophy of psychology.

Cited authors

Wittgenstein Ludwig