Philosophy

Philosophy

Analyzing of Wittgenstein's critique of Augustine's the picture theory of Language

Document Type : Scientific-research

Author
Mohsen Bohlooli Faskhoodi
Assistant Professor, Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies
10.22059/jop.2020.75971
Abstract
Wittgenstein begins the important work of his later period of thought, Philosophical Investigations, by critiquing Augustine's view of language. He goes on to show that Augustine's theory is based on a limited understanding and, in his words, an element of language that has limited it to the realm of communication and imagery. He also acknowledges Augustine's remarks as a way of ostensive teaching for language learning and has criticized this view. In this study, inferential qualitative method and using one of Augustine's completely specialized and philosophical works on the category of language and its relation to teaching, Teacher dialogue, has been shown that Wittgenstein's critiques of the picture theory of language, the criterion of meaning of language, and the theory of ostensive teaching and definition are, though not entirely, largely based on a limited understanding of Augustine's linguistic positions. Thus, the findings of the study suggest that Wittgenstein's criticism of Augustine's view of the narrative of his work was limited to the Confession book and since this autobiographical work is written more for the general audience and Augustine's aim was not to pose complicated and complex language issues and philosophize about them, Wittgenstein's understanding of the geography of Augustine's thought is strongly in doubt.
Keywords
Picture theory of language
signify
meaning
using
ostensive teaching
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 05 May 2020