Abstract

Unlike those who have previously investigated affinities and disaffinities of view among Kierkegaard, the early Wittgenstein, and the later Wittgenstein, I begin this study with a systematic, comprehensive analysis of these philosophers' views of epistemology. I then explore the ramifications of these views for epistemic claims and linguistic practices within ethics and religion. I argue that a comparative study of Kierkegaard and Wittgenstein is instructive for several reasons: first, familiarity with Wittgenstein's analysis of logical problems associated with our use of language allows us to better appreciate Kierkegaard's concern with logical problems; second, familiarity with Kierkegaard's use of indirect communication helps us to see the extent to which the Tractatus is an exercise in indirect communication; third, Kierkegaard's treatment of the ethically existing subject helps us to better understand the early Wittgenstein's discussion of solipsism; fourth, the later Wittgenstein's analysis of belief, doubt, certainty, and justification serve to clarify several problems which one encounters with Kierkegaard's doxastic voluntarism; fifth, the later Wittgenstein's analysis of the language-games associated with science and religion further clarify and lend legitimacy to Kierkegaard's distinction between the "sphere of proof" and the "sphere of faith." In many respects, it may be said that Wittgenstein's work further explores a number of problems which Kierkegaard raised. In addition to considering these ways in which the study of Kierkegaard illuminates Wittgenstein, and vice versa, I further argue that considerable evidence exists for the plausibility of Kierkegaard's having influenced Wittgenstein, especially as concerns Wittgenstein's views of Scripture, doctrine, proofs for the existence of God, religious belief, and religious instruction. The study also lends credence to an emergent, broadened understanding of Wittgenstein's work and suggests a way of doing philosophy which recognizes the legitimacy and place of both the scientific and religious points of view