Open AccessWhat Does it Mean to "Throw Away the Ladder"?
Author(s) -
Pamela Ann J. Boongaling
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
principia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.176
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 1808-1525
pISSN - 1414-4247
DOI - 10.5007/1808-1711.2020v24n3p603
Subject(s) - reductio ad absurdum , philosophy , naturalism , epistemology , philosophy of science , interpretation (philosophy) , metaphilosophy , reading (process) , contemporary philosophy , analytic philosophy , western philosophy , metaphysics , linguistics
In this paper, I will demonstrate via reductio ad absurdum that a resolute reading of Wittgenstein’s Tractatus should reconsider their equation of “throwing away the ladder” with the “end of philosophy.” To do this, I will show that an inconsistency arises in Wittgenstein’s view regarding the relationship of philosophy and science since he associates “the correct method of philosophy” with the propositions of science at the end of the aforementioned text. Due to this, I will maintain that it is reasonable to posit that the sharp distinction that Wittgenstein makes between philosophy and science in the Tractatus is merely illusory. An interesting consequence of this is that if this interpretation holds then this provides sufficient grounds to maintain that what some scholars refer to as “the end of philosophy” may actually be the beginning of “Wittgenstein’s naturalism.”