Abstract

An attempt is made to try to delineate the common ground of feminist concerns and the work of Wittgenstein by alluding to several areas of theory - among them are the orality-literacy distinction, the notion of the universal, and the realm of particulars. I cite portions of both the Tractatus and the Investigations, and utilize the work of commentators such as Anscombe, Fogelin and Genova. The broader argument is that Wittgenstein's turn away from a kind of logical atomism is a move that can readily be used for feminist purposes, but that it requires precise articulation and a clear setting-out of conditions. Key Words: feminist theory • orality-literacy • particulars and the universal • reference • Wittgenstein's Investigations • Wittgenstein's Tractatus