Why Theory Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations
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Jan 8, 2024 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'.
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Language Over Logic
- Wittgenstein shifts from logic to language, treating words by what they do rather than abstract definitions.
- He uses examples (like chess) to show meaning arises from public use and function, not private essence.
Learning By Watching
- Wittgenstein's 'language games' show words gain sense through use and shared practices, like chess moves in a game.
- You learn language by watching others play the game, not by first being taught abstract rules.
The Wire Explains Chess
- Todd compares Wittgenstein's repeated chess example to D explaining chess to kids in The Wire courtyard scene.
- The Wire scene flips the analogy: chess explains the drug game, making the illicit trade internally logical.