Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations marked a radical shift from his earlier work. He abandoned the search for an ideal language, instead embracing the complexity of everyday speech. This change revolutionized how philosophers thought about language and meaning.

Wittgenstein introduced key ideas like language-games and forms of life. These concepts highlighted how language use varies across contexts and cultures. His work challenged traditional views on meaning, mind, and knowledge, reshaping many areas of philosophy.

Wittgenstein's Early vs Later Philosophy

Transition from Tractatus to Philosophical Investigations

• Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus focused on picture theory of meaning and language as logical calculus
• Philosophical Investigations departed radically from earlier views
  • Rejected notion of ideal language
  • Embraced complexity of ordinary language use
• Abandoned search for unified account of language and meaning
  • Emphasized diverse functions of language in different contexts
• Introduced concept of "family resemblances"
  • Challenged idea that all instances of a concept share common essence
• Shifted focus from formal logic to examination of everyday language use
  • Explored role of language in human practices and forms of life
• Changed method of philosophical investigation
  • Moved from systematic, axiomatic approach
  • Adopted therapeutic style aimed at dissolving philosophical problems

Language-Games and Meaning

Concept and Implications of Language-Games

• Language-games represent diverse linguistic practices embedded in specific contexts (greetings, giving directions)
• Challenge idea of fixed relationship between words and meanings
  • Emphasize role of use in determining meaning
• Analogy to games illustrates implicit, variable rules across contexts
• Understanding language involves mastering techniques and practices
  • Not grasping abstract meanings or mental representations
• Connected to broader concept of "forms of life"
  • Linguistic meaning inseparable from social and cultural contexts
• Critique essentialism in language
  • Argue against fixed, universal meanings independent of use

Implications for Theories of Meaning

• Meaning as dynamic process tied to use and context
  • Not a static entity
• Challenges truth-conditional semantics
• Promotes use-based accounts of meaning
• Influences discussions on rule-following and normativity
  • Impacts ethics and philosophy of social sciences

Critique of Private Language

Private Language Argument

• Challenges possibility of language only understandable by single user
• Argues private language concept incoherent
  • Language requires public criteria for correct use
  • Cannot be based solely on private sensations or experiences
• Significant implications for theories of mind
  • Challenges those positing inner mental states as basis of meaning
• Suggests meaning of psychological terms (pain) determined by public use
  • Not by private, inner experiences
• Challenges Cartesian dualism
  • Questions sharp distinction between inner mental states and outer behavior

Impact on Philosophy of Mind

• Implies understanding of mental states based on social language learning
  • Not introspection of private experiences
• Influential in debates on nature of consciousness and self-knowledge
• Contributes to development of social externalism
  • In philosophy of mind and language
• Impacts discussions on problem of other minds

Wittgenstein's Impact on Analytic Philosophy

Influence on Philosophical Approaches

• Significantly influenced "ordinary language philosophy" movement
  • Emphasized analyzing everyday language use in philosophical investigations
• Method of dissolving philosophical problems through language analysis
  • Influenced approaches to skepticism and rule-following
• Challenged foundationalist epistemologies
  • Promoted contextualist approaches to knowledge and justification
• Impacted discussions on normativity across philosophy
  • Including ethics and philosophy of social sciences

Contributions to Specific Philosophical Areas

• Philosophy of language: Challenged truth-conditional semantics
  • Promoted use-based accounts of meaning
• Philosophy of mind: Influenced discussions on nature of mental states
  • Impacted problem of other minds
• Epistemology: Promoted contextualist approaches to knowledge
  • Challenged traditional foundationalist theories
• Ethics: Influenced discussions on rule-following and normativity
• Social sciences: Impacted approaches to understanding social phenomena
  • Through emphasis on forms of life and language-games