Ryan and Todd discuss the parallels between Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations and psychoanalysis, as well as its political significance. They also explore the importance of language games and the chess analogy, the invention of sound in film, the concept of symbolic exchange and the unconscious, the connection between Wittgenstein and Freud, the ending of a Charlie Chaplin film, and capitalism in 'The Kid'.
Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations focuses more on language rather than logic, exploring how language works through examples.
Wittgenstein's philosophy in the Investigations aims to cure readers of misconceptions in everyday language by showing them how they are actually using it.
The podcast episode highlights the parallel between Wittgenstein's emphasis on not being seduced by the image in language and the idea of immersion in film.
Deep dives
Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations as a Broadened Text
In the podcast episode, the hosts discuss Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations as a broadened text compared to his earlier work, the Tractatus. While the Tractatus presents propositions in a concise and elliptical manner, the Philosophical Investigations delves into the use of language, showing how language works through examples. The hosts emphasize that Wittgenstein's method in the Investigations is influenced by his experience teaching grade school, which lends a unique and idiosyncratic appeal to his explanations. They highlight how the Investigations focuses more on language rather than logic, and how Wittgenstein is interested in what can be shown in language rather than what can be shown logically.
The Therapeutic Nature of Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations
In the podcast episode, the hosts discuss the therapeutic nature of Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations. They suggest that Wittgenstein aims to cure readers of their misconceptions and limitations in everyday language by showing them how they are actually using language. Instead of interfering in the actual use of language, Wittgenstein's philosophy leaves everything as it is and encourages individuals to pay attention to how language is being used. The hosts also draw a parallel between Wittgenstein's emphasis on use and the notion that psychoanalysis is not a private language but a public discourse, highlighting the importance of how language is used and interpreted in both contexts.
Visuality, Immersion, and Public Language
The podcast episode explores the themes of visuality, immersion, and public language in Wittgenstein's work. The hosts discuss how silent cinema, which relied on visual storytelling, captured a certain utopian quality that later sound films could not replicate, as sound brought the cinematic experience closer to reality and required a different type of engagement. They draw connections between Wittgenstein's emphasis on not being seduced by the image in language and the idea of immersion in film. They also touch upon the importance of public language in psychoanalysis, where the analyst becomes a point of public reference rather than a private dialogue. This highlights the therapeutic aspect of both Wittgenstein's investigations and the analytic process.
The importance of understanding the interstitial moments
Vikensin emphasizes the significance of understanding the moments in between actions or events, such as the moment after waking up but before the foot hits the floor. He believes that these interstitial moments, which are often taken for granted, hold essential insights and are challenging to explain.
The limitations of private language and the primacy of error in language
Vikensin argues against the possibility of a private language, stating that following a rule privately is not feasible. He highlights the importance of error in language and how it generates creativity and new insights. However, he fails to fully recognize the positive role of error and the way in which errors can be forms of knowing. This resistance to the primacy of error stems from his desire to eliminate errors and cleanse language of any misunderstandings.
Ryan and Todd think through Ludwig Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations, focusing especially on the parallels with psychoanalysis and the work's political significance. They also address the ramifications of the private language argument that Wittgenstein formulates.
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