Abstract

This book presents an interestingly different approach to the interpretation of Wittgenstein's later philosophy. Instead of an account focused on the text of the later writings, Suter has chosen to organize his book by reference to certain central philosophical problems and Wittgenstein's actual or constructed treatment of them. Thus, after an opening section dealing with Wittgenstein's conception of philosophy, we are treated to an extended examination of the mind/ body problem which not only develops Wittgenstein's own ideas but also shows how Wittgenstein would deal with various forms of the identity theory, behaviorism, and classical dualism. This section is followed by several chapters that develop Wittgenstein's ideas--in less detail--in relation to Augustine's philosophy of time, the Dream Argument, Russell on proper names, and Kripke's infamous discussion of rule-following. Along the way, Suter makes a number of telling points against various other interpreters and, among other things, offers his own extended analysis of the notion of criteria. This approach, which is meant to let the reader see Wittgenstein's ideas at work, presents his views as engaged and philosophically current and for that reason is a very interesting introduction to Wittgenstein's later thought.