PHIL 415 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Cora Diamond, Dasein, Martin Heidegger
12 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
March 14th/2018
Wittgenstein
- Offers a useful method, but can be harmful when used improperly
o Temperance, moderation
Sec 97
- Par 2: we look for a special philosophical way in which words connect (super-ordinary,
beyond the ordinary) we try to account for a depth that may not even be there
o Wrong to assume there is some depth to meaning of lang. when there isn’t
109
- Tractatus: philosophical vs scientific methods
- Narrow idea of philosophy: philosophy shouldn’t explain, only should clear conceptual
ground so that all that remains is a scientific question (therapeutic conception of philosophy)
o Philosophy is here to get rid of philosophical questions
o Aka “quietism” – view that there is nothing to say, no need to answer a particular
question
o Shows that in regard to a perplexity, there is less than meets the eye
- We need philosophy to show how/why there is no philosophical problem – cures us of
the need for a theory
111
- The need for philosophical inquiry is natural, but there are no answers
o Continues tractatus attitude toward philosophy
114
- Reflecting on tractatus
- “retracing the frame” – kind of a linguistic idealism we are driven by something, and
this causes us to see the world through a certain lens. But there is no deep necessity for the lens.
o Linguistic version of lenses through which we see the world
- Cora Diamond – realism
115
- We are held captive by a picture of the world (world view) – this is part of our language,
the way we talk and think.
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- Difficult to talk/think in a different way than this – W wants us to realize that we are
held captive but can be liberated
116
- Liberation from captivity of language
- Words come out of certain ways of speaking, which emerge out of forms of life
- Liberation looks like: what “we” (new philosophers) do is bring words back down to
earth
o Important to know that we needed to be trapped in order to do this
118
- By doing this we don’t destroy anything valuable, but makes room for things that do have
value
- W includes self as those who are held captive by a picture – we are all inclined to make
these mistakes
120
- The way we normally speak reinforces mistakes
- (ex: Heidegger: to do this we need to develop new language, “dasein” instead of person –
W doesn’t do this)
- Traditional philosophy has got things wrong (H and W agree here too)
- Need to connect w real life
- If everyday language isn’t good enough, question arises as to how to develop a better
language or ideal language?
- Instead should reflect on how much we can actually do w our normal language?
- Challenges whether it is even possible to develop a better language? Doesn’t say its
impossible, but questions it
- What look like deep probs that require new language are actually more shallow than that
- It is meaning that counts
122
- A main source of our failure to understand is that we don’t have an overview of the use of
our words
- “overview” to see from above. When we see something from above it is easier to see
everything and understand than when we are embedded inside it
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Offers a useful method, but can be harmful when used improperly. Par 2: we look for a special philosophical way in which words connect (super-ordinary, we try to account for a depth that may not even be there. Wrong to assume there is some depth to meaning of lang. when there isn"t. Narrow idea of philosophy: philosophy shouldn"t explain, only should clear conceptual ground so that all that remains is a scientific question (therapeutic conception of philosophy) Philosophy is here to get rid of philosophical questions. Aka quietism view that there is nothing to say, no need to answer a particular. Shows that in regard to a perplexity, there is less than meets the eye. We need philosophy to show how/why there is no philosophical problem cures us of the need for a theory. The need for philosophical inquiry is natural, but there are no answers.
