Abstract
In this paper, I explore Wittgenstein’s philosophical approach to physics, an approach that crystallises in the Tractatus and is then polished—rather than replaced—in his later writings. The question of Wittgenstein’s attitude towards science has been the subject of much scholarly debate. Wittgenstein maintained throughout his life that philosophy, ethics and religion should be kept separate from the natural sciences. In his view, any attempt to apply scientific methodologies to philosophical, ethical and religious discussions is both dangerous and futile. Some interpreters have read this aspect of Wittgenstein’s thinking as expressing a strong hostility to science: Wittgenstein, they suggest, views science in an negative light and, for this reason, wishes to protect other areas from scientific encroachment. Wittgenstein certainly conveys on occasion a deep frustration with what he regards as the increasing dominance of science over other forms of culture. In Culture and Value, we find him writing.
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Notes
- 1.
See notably Phillips (1993).
- 2.
Tejedor (2017).
- 3.
The Tractatus’ remarks on natural science systems (notably, TLP 6.341–6.343) first emerge in the Notebooks in as early as December 1914, at which point Wittgenstein comments ‘This I have felt for a long time’ (NB 6.12.14). I am grateful to John Preston for drawing my attention to this.
- 4.
Both of these are discussed in further detail in my: Tejedor (2015: Chaps. 4 and 5).
- 5.
Monk (1991: 265, Fig. 42).
- 6.
- 7.
This notion of the ‘scientific book’ is a clear echo of the Tractatus’ notion of a book entitled The World as I Found It (TLP 5.631).
- 8.
On this, see notably Moyal-Sharrock (2005).
- 9.
Moyal-Sharrock (2005: 80–2).
References
McGuinness, B. Approaches to Wittgenstein: Collected Papers, 2002.
Monk, R. Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius (Penguin) 1991.
Moyal-Sharrock, D. 2005, Understanding Wittgenstein’s “On Certainty”. Palgrave Macmillan.
Phillips, D. Z. 1993, Wittgenstein and Religion (Palgrave Macmillan).
Tejedor, C. 2017, “Scientism as a Threat to Science: Wittgenstein on Self-Subverting Methodologies.” J. Beale and I. J. Kidd (eds.), Wittgenstein on Scientism (Routledge): 14–33.
Tejedor, C. The Early Wittgenstein on Natural Science, Metaphysics, Language and Value (Routledge) 2015.
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Tejedor, C. (2020). Wittgenstein on Physics. In: Wuppuluri, S., da Costa, N. (eds) WITTGENSTEINIAN (adj.). The Frontiers Collection. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27569-3_16
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