In Our Time Ordinary Language Philosophy
Nov 7, 2013
Melvyn Bragg and guests explore Ordinary Language Philosophy, a movement rooted in Wittgenstein's ideas. They discuss linguistic analysis to solve philosophical issues, the influence on 20th-century British thinkers like Gilbert Ryle, and the shift towards everyday language scrutiny. The podcast delves into the transition from logical positivism, moral implications of language nuances, and contrasting philosophical perspectives at Oxford.
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Meaning Is Use In Context
- Ordinary language philosophy treats meaning as use within forms of life rather than as correspondence to reality.
- Philosophical problems often dissolve when we examine everyday language practices instead of seeking hidden essences.
A Late Phase Of Analytic Philosophy
- Ordinary language philosophy emerged as a later phase of analytic philosophy that resists formal calculus and seeks clarification in ordinary speech.
- It emphasizes curbing metaphysical speculation by attending to everyday linguistic competence.
Frege's Context Principle Started The Turn
- Frege's context principle shifted metaphysical questions into questions about the meaning of words within sentences.
- This linguistic move set the stage for later analytic and ordinary language methods.