Wittgenstein and the Philosophy of Language

Throughout his philosophical development, Wittgenstein was more concerned with language than with any other topic. No other philosopher has been as influential on our understanding of the deep problems surrounding language, and yet the true significance of his writing on the subject is difficult to assess, since most of the current debates regarding language tend to overlook his work. In this book, Thomas McNally shows that philosophers of language still have much to learn from Wittgenstein's later writings. The book examines the finer details of his arguments while also clarifying their importance for debates outside the field of Wittgenstein studies. Presenting the issues thematically (as they relate to questions of reference, scepticism about meaning, and the social dimension of language, among others), the book explores how the arguments in the Philosophical Investigations remain relevant, compelling us to reflect in novel and challenging ways on the nature of language.

• Evaluates Wittgenstein's enormous contribution to our understanding of language, a central aspect of his philosophical thought
• Offers clear and original interpretations of his Philosophical Investigations in relation to the theories of other philosophers, allowing readers to assess the broader significance of Wittgenstein's writings for the later philosophy of language
• Addresses topics including the nature of understanding language, scepticism about meaning, and the social dimension of language