Wittgenstein and the Possibility of Discourse

This original critique of Wittgenstein’s analogy between language and games, written by one of the philosopher’s literary executors and closest friends, has now been updated to include two additional articles. Updated edition of this original critique of Wittgenstein’s analogy between language and games. Rush Rhees was one of Wittgenstein’s literary executors and closest friends, as well as being an outstanding philosopher in his own right. D.Z. Phillips was Director of the Rush Rhees Archive and the Associated Centre for Wittgensteinian Studies. Constitutes a major contribution to Wittgenstein scholarship and to philosophical debates about the possibility of discourse. The second edition includes as a preface Rhees’ article, ‘The Fundamental Problems of Philosophy’, first published in 1994. It also includes as a second appendix some of Rhees’ reflections of Wittgenstein, his teacher.

Table of Contents:
Note to the second edition vii Preface: The Fundamental Problem of Philosophy viii Note in editing xxi Introduction xxv Analytic table of contents xlv Part One Philosophy and Language I Plato, language and the growth of understanding 3 II “What is language 21 III The reality of language 33 Part Two Games and Language IV Discussion and discourse 65 V Games, calculations, discussions and conversations 81 Part Three Beyond Wittgenstein’s Builders VI Signals and saying something 97 VII Language: a family of games? 116 VIII Understanding what is said 130 IX Wittgenstein’s builders – recapitulation 151 Part Four Belonging to Language X Conversation and institutions 173 XI Language and generality 181 XII Language, speaking and common intelligibility 210 XIII Philosophy, life and language 243 Appendix: On Wittgenstein 257 Rush Rhees: a biographical sketch 266 Index 276

About the Author :
Author Biography Rush Rhees (1905-1989) taught philosophy at the University of Swansea from 1940 to 1966, where he was subsequently made an Honorary Professor and Fellow. Among his principal teachers he included Alfred Kastil, John Anderson, G.E. Moore and, above all, Ludwig Wittgenstein. He was one of Wittgenstein’s literary executors and closest friends, as well as being an outstanding philosopher in his own right. Editor Biography D.Z. Phillips was Professor of Philosophy Emeritus and Rush Rhees Professor Emeritus at the University of Wales, Swansea and Danforth Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Claremont Graduate University. He was also Director of the Rush Rhees Archive, Swansea and the Associated Centre for Wittgensteinian Studies. He co-edited ‘Wittgenstein: Attention to Particulars’ (1989), a collection in Rhees' honour, and was the editor of seven of Rhees’ works published posthumously.