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Logic and Value in Wittgenstein’s Philosophy
Author(s) -
Stiers Peter
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
philosophical investigations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.172
H-Index - 14
eISSN - 1467-9205
pISSN - 0190-0536
DOI - 10.1111/phin.12292
Subject(s) - value (mathematics) , epistemology , sentence , perspective (graphical) , philosophy , interpretation (philosophy) , truth value , philosophical logic , linguistics , computer science , artificial intelligence , machine learning
Abstract In Tractatus Logico‐Philosophicus (TLP), Wittgenstein gave ethics the same semantic status as logic. This paper first investigates this claim from the perspective of Wittgenstein’s lifelong semantic framework. This reveals that ethical sentences are meaningless expressions, which can only be used to ostensively point out conditions of meaningfulness. Secondly, the paper assesses the implications of this conclusion for understanding the seven cryptic remarks on value and ethics in TLP. Using the connection between will and value in TLP and will and sentence interpretation in Philosophical Investigations , it is suggested that Wittgenstein held lifelong views on value and ethics.