Wittgenstein's Definition of Meaning As Use

Garth Hallet

Published by Fordham University Press 1967

Wittgenstein's Definition of Meaning As Use

Garth Hallet

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780823295616

Overview
Contents

About this book

The purpose of this book is to examine and explicate a definition given in Philosophical Investigations. The definition of the meaning of a word is that the meaning of a word is its use in the language." Hallet understands this as a definition in the strict sense of the word. In Chapter I, the author look to the Tractatus for its treatment of the picture theory of meaning and the Bedeutung/Sinn distinction. The conclusion which he pulls from the early work is that, for Wittgenstein, meaning was already in a proposition by way of the meaning (Bedeutung) of names (simples). Yet, only in the use or application, i.e. in a proposition with sense (Sinn) is meaning revealed. Although the Tractatus is far from saying that meaning is use, certain guiding themes are elaborated and carried into later works; namely, the search for meaning, the impossibility of meaning outside use, and meaning as revealed by use. Chapter II, III, and especially IV bear the brunt of establishing Hallet's thesis that Wittgenstein presented a significant and sound definition. He begins by showing what Wittgenstein proved meaning not to be: meaning is not images, objects, mental referents, nor feelings. All of these theories have convincing confirmation in certain respects, yet analysis, i.e. observation of the actual working of language, shows each to be too narrow. In making his transition to the true definition, the author shows Wittgenstein elaborating theses that meaning is to be found in the system or context of language (depth grammar). These are elaborated only to be cast aside as were the previous suggestions. The pattern elicited from these examinations is that meaning is use and, hence, defined as such. To explicate the definition, Hallett presents and examines seven characteristics of use: complexity, regularity and utility, abstraction, openness, vagueness, variety, and family resemblances. The book concludes with a consideration of the major objections to Wittgenstein's definition."-The Review of Metaphysics

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	V
CONTENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	VII
ABBREVIATIONS Publicly Available Download PDF	IX
INTRODUCTION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
I: MEANING AND USE IN THE TRACT ATUS
I. THE SEARCH FOR MEANING Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	8
II. NO MEANING OUTSIDE USE Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	9
III. MEANING REVEALED BY USE Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	14
IV. THE PICTURE THEORY OF MEANING Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	15
V. OCCAM's RAZOR Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	18
VI. Sinn AND Bedeutung IN THE Tractatus Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	25
VII. THE Tractatus MEANINGS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	26
VIII. THE ACT OF MEANING Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	29
IX. CONCLUSION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	31
II: WITTGENSTEIN'S REJECTION OF UNITARY MEANINGS
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	33
I. A WIDER VIEW Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	34
II. MEANINGS ARE NOT OBJECTS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	36
III. MENTAL MEANINGS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	39
IV. MEANINGS ARE NOT IMAGES Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	42
V. MEANINGS ARE NOT FEELINGS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	48
VI. CONCLUSION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	73
III: THE ORIGINS OF THE LATER DEFINITION
I. THE MOMENT OF TRANSITION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	76
II. THE DECLINE OF RULES Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	78
III. THE DECLINE OF THE "SYSTEM" Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	80
IV. DEMONSTRATING THE NEW DEFINITION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	86
V. CONCLUSION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	92
IV: THE EXTENSION AND INTENSION OF THE DEFINITION
I. THE DEFINITION'S EXTENSION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	94
II. THE DEFINITION'S INTENSION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	98
III. CONCLUSION Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	126
V: THE DEFINITION'S WORTH
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	128
I. TOO NARROW? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	129
II. TOO BROAD? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	133
III. TOO VAGUE? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	141
IV. UNPROVED? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	148
V. UNIMPORTANT? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	156
NOTES Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	172
INDEX NOMINUM Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	207
INDEX RERUM Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	209

Language: English
Publisher: Fordham University Press
Copyright year: 1967
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 222

eBook

Published: December 6, 2021
ISBN: 9780823295616