PHIL 308(S) Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations
Bertrand Russell claimed that Ludwig Wittgenstein was "perhaps the most perfect example I have ever known of genius as traditionally conceived-passionate, profound, intense, and dominating." Wittgenstein's two masterpieces, the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and the Philosophical Investigations, stand like opposing poles around which schools of twentieth-century analytic philosophy revolve. The Wittgenstein of the Tractatus is known as the "earlier Wittgenstein," the Wittgenstein of the Investigations is known as the "later Wittgenstein." This course is an intensive, line-by-line study of the Investigations-one of the greatest (and thus, one of the most controversial) books in the history of philosophy. Aside from its overwhelming influence on late- twentieth-century philosophy and intellectual culture, any book which contains the remark, "if a lion could talk, we could not understand him," deserves serious attention.
Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: one short midterm paper (5-7 pages) and one longer final paper (12-15 pages).
Prerequisites: Philosophy 102. Philosophy 202 or another course in analytic philosophy highly recommended. Enrollment limit: 15 (expected: 12-15). Preference given to majors, prospective majors, and students firmly committed to the course.
Hour: GERRARD