If we read Ludwig Wittgenstein's works and take his scientific formation in mathematical logic into account, it comes as a surprise that he ever developed a particular interest in anthropological questions. The following questions immediately arise: What role does anthropology play in Wittgenstein's work? How do problems concerning mankind as a whole relate to his philosophy? How does his approach relate to philosophical anthropology? How does he view classical issues about Man's affairs and actions? The aim of this book is (...) to investigate the anthropological questions that Wittgenstein raised in his works. The answers to the questions raised in this introduction may be found on the intersection between forms of life and radical translation from another culture into ours. The book presents an extensive analysis of anthropological issues with emphasis on language and social elements. (shrink)

The aim of this article is to reconstruct the contributions that Wittgenstein made to the field of aesthetics. The focus of interest lies on the theory of sensory perception. This theory is characterized as a program of “minimal visibilia” and will be analyzed by employing the phenomenological method. Three problems are addressed in the context of the visual space, such as blurredness, indistinctness and sensory impressions. A distinction between the visual space and the Euclidean space can only be made by (...) comparing their respective typical structures. We will particularly analyze the relation that exists between the perceiving human being on the one hand and the visual space on the other hand. In order to get a deeper insight into this problem the visual space shall be compared to a two-dimensional picture. Moreover the role and function of the colours have to be clarified to establish a “minimum visibilia”. (shrink)

To what extent can we doubt certainties? How are certainties expressed in words? Which language games convey certainty? To answer these questions we have to recall the method Wittgenstein used in his investigations. When we look at language games and forms of life as inseparable phenomena, do forms of life then provide any certainty? On the other hand, do we automatically relapse into relativism once we doubt certainties? Which formal structures underlie certainty and doubt? The book is intended to answer (...) these questions. (shrink)

La expresión “mundo posible” se emplea para expresar argumentos moda-les. En este trabajo encontramos las huellas implícitas anteriores de la idea de mundos posi-bles en las obras de Antonio Rubio que tuvo una gran influencia en la discusión posterior. Primero reconstruimos la crítica lleva a cabo por Suárez contra Aristóteles que postulaba que sólo había un mundo. Seguidamente, se desarrolla dicha propuesta en la que se asentó el planteamiento acerca de los mundos posibles desarrollada por Gottfried Leibniz. Se presenta el (...) argumento de la Teodicea que se refirió a los mundos posibles como procedimientos de la mente de Dios y utilizó la noción para argumentar que nuestro mundo creado realmente debe ser “el mejor de todos los mundos posibles”. Dicho argumento se asienta tanto en el campo de la lógica modal como en los procedimientos seguidos por el cálculo funcional. (shrink)

Undoubtedly, Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) is considered one of the most famous philosophers. In contrast to other 20 th century philosophers, who arranged to have their complete works published while still alive or after their deaths, Wittgenstein’s works are still incompletely published with only part of them being in print. He wasn’t concerned with the issue of notoriety nor was he concerned with fame. However, his lectures and publications would very early be recognized by his Spanish colleagues and were reviewed as (...) early as in 1933. This volume is designed to present new ideas and approaches to analysis to open up a new perspective in the reception of Wittgenstein’s works. This volume of essays has a unity and bears throughout the imprint of Wittgenstein’s powerful and original mind. The authors have published most of their contributions in international journals. They are willing to present their results to debate and would welcome constructive feedback. (shrink)

En la ’metateoría de las teorías científicas’ se exhibe una especie de catálogo de los problemas más destacados de la filosofía de la ciencia. La metateoría científica analiza la teoría de las formas con las que opera el lenguaje científico. Así pues, es una teoría descriptiva de determinadas estructuras científicas. En esta monografía analizamos la metateoría de la ciencia, el papel que juegan los condicionales contrafácticos en las teorías científicas, los problemas vinculados a los términos teóricos, el análisis de la (...) incomensurabilidad y los cambios estructurales que aparecen con los cambios teóricos. (shrink)

The aim of this article is to examine the concept of ›custom‹ (Gepflogenheit) in Wittgenstein’s philosophy. Any meaningful human action is underpinned by rules. Custom is situated in the transition phase from the actual rule to the following of this rule. However, as the concept of ›rule‹ is a term with blurred edges and does not allow any ›interpretations behind interpretations‹, it can- not guarantee objectivity. Therefore, a platonic perspective must be adopted which involves fixed rules but makes it impossible (...) to distinguish between appearance and reality. From a grammatical point of view, it is impossible for an agent to follow a rule privately and only once. In this context disposition characterizes the process of a game in two ways, both psychologically as well as physiologically. The notion of custom is examined in the context of an understanding of language game. For Wittgenstein, neither ›Intention‹ nor ›Absicht‹ are considered states of consciousness because they are only of temporary but not of permanent nature. (shrink)

Paradoxes arises in self-referential language if a new perception cannot be adequately described. A solution is only possible by revising the categorical system as well as the language. This work focuses on the second aspect. The non-standard, modal proposals for the above-mentioned semantic paradoxes fall to completely satisfy both aspects since, as we still demonstrate, the language becomes self-restricting, which then bears serious consequences.

The problems associated with understanding come to light in many facets of our lives. This volume is dedicated to describing these facets and clarifying problems related to levels of comprehension, conceptual analysis, understanding oneself and the other as well as cultural aspects of understanding. The authors address the topic in different theoretical frames such as hermeneutics, phenomenology, transcendental, and analytic philosophy.

Verdad se usa con frecuencia para expresar que una proposición se corresponde con los hechos, la realidad o es fiel a algo original. Muchas actividades humanas se sirven del concepto de “verdad” si bien se presupone su significado intuitivo. El concepto de verdad se debate en este libro principalmente desde tres tradiciones distintas: la teoría clásica, la propuesta semántica y la opción alternativa. Comúnmente, la verdad se ve como la correspondencia del lenguaje o el pensamiento con una realidad independiente. Por (...) el contrario, una teoría semántica de la verdad es una teoría que sostiene que la verdad es una propiedad de las proposiciones. Este punto de vista ha recalcado en presentar una definición satisfactoria que sea materialmente adecuada y formalmente correcta del predicado verdadero. La concepción semántica de verdad se relaciona de diferentes maneras tanto con la correspondencia como con las concepciones deflacionistas. Sin embargo, una convención que satisfaga el predicado de verdad para ciertos enunciados de un lenguaje dado no se puede definir dentro de ese lenguaje. Mediante esta propuesta se intenta resolver la paradoja del mentiroso. Por el contrario, las propuestas alternativas consideran que la definición de semántica es artificiosa empobreciendo así la dimensión veritativa del lenguaje ordinario en el que los hablantes se expresan. Su propuesta pretende devolver al lenguaje natural su significatividad original del predicado “verdad(ero)”. Kripke demuestra que un lenguaje puede contener consistentemente su propio predicado de la verdad, algo que Alfred Tarski consideraba imposible. El enfoque se asienta en definir “verdad” como propiedad parcialmente definida sobre el conjunto de enunciados gramaticalmente bien formados en el lenguaje. El libro aborda los temas afines, presentando las pruebas y refutaciones propuestas en cada alternativa. (shrink)

Ludwig Wittgenstein’s writings inspired contemporary philosophical thinking and advanced many issues that had been addressed by traditional philosophy. The questions raised by the Viennese philosopher initiated debates on a reconsideration of philosophical terminology. This is especially true for a term that has generated at least three significant controversies since its creation and will probably generate more disputes in the following years. It is the expression “form(s) of life” which translates into German as “Lebensform(en)” and “Form des Lebens”. The present volume (...) contains contributions on forms of life, language games and the influence of Wittgenstein’s philosophy on other scholars. (shrink)

The aim of this article is to analyze Wittgenstein's use of the notion of the philosophical superlative by which he describes the problems associated with ostensive definitions and language acquisition. After a brief outline of the research questions posed by Wittgenstein, the philosophical superlative is described and linked to the notion of super-expression. The skeptical argument is then analyzed and the ostensive definition is criticized from a skeptical point of view. In the work, special attention is paid to the analysis (...) of the fallacies that may be associated with the philosophical superlative. Finally, skepticism is criticized for being an insufficient tool to reveal mythological errors in our language. (shrink)

For some time now we have noticed an increasing scepticism regarding the effectiveness of democracy, and its ability to represent citizens through elections. Elections are the central mechanism of political decision taking. However, there is a clear tendency to exploit electo­ rial processes by populist politicians. The ancient ideal of paideia was to educate citizens by following a civic program. Its aim was to enable the citizen to exercise the civil rights and duties. Since the 1970s, however, we had observed (...) two contrasting tendencies: a growth of individualization, and a ecrease of the level of civic education. In the 1990s populist politi­ cal parties entered the political scene of European democracies, some of which have man­ aged to establish a mob rule or ochlocracy (ὀχλοκρατία). Since then, ochlocratic parties have systematically intended to win the votes of politically less educated citizens by offering them a simplified political discourse. In fact, these parties have managed to neutralize the two­party system in many European countries. Thus they managed to block majority­based governments, forcing parties to form coalitions with ideologically opposing smaller parties. This has created a situation in which the “punishment vote” becomes the mean to gain the votes of undecided people who may be characterized as rebels without political culture. (shrink)

Welches ist das adäquate System für die Beweisbarkeit in formalisierbaren mathematischen Theorien? Um diese Frage zu beantworten, werden Gödels UnvoUständigkeitsbeweis und vor allem dessen Strukturen analysiert, die ihn als zu einer besonderen Gruppe innerhalb der selbstbezüglichen Sätze gehörig ausweisen. Weiters wird der Interpretationsstreit zwischen L. Wittgenstein und K. Gödel rekonstruiert und zuletzt eine Reihe semantischer Folgemngen aus Gödels Lösungsvorschlag gezogen.