Wittgenstein. The Philosophical Investigations I

In this video, Professor Thorsby discusses offers an overview of the first few sections of the Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein. This represents Wittgenstein later work in which he adopts a very different view regarding the meaningfulness of propositions. Rather tRoughly speaking, this video introduces §1-75 of the first part of the text. Not all arguments are covered, but the major concepts are noted, including:

Language-games
Family Resemblances
Ostensive Definitions
Naming

The "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus" is not covered. For a much greater review of his work see

[adhamaladdin]

Thank you so much for these wonderful & insightful contributions, Mr. Thorsby ... continue uploading whenever possible, cheers :)

[danibob]

Wonderful educational material. Well structured, well explained, good visual and engaging audio. Thank you for including key citations and examples from PI.

[AdrienLegendre]

Thanks for this nice video. This video explores this topic more deeply than other videos.

[dxtnt]

Thanks Mark, your videos really helped me with my dissertation on Wittgenstein

[ManuelLopez-mceu]

I love your videos because you're really good at explaining very complex philosophers for the amateur learner. Huge thanks for taking on someone as complex and difficult as Wittgenstein!

[nickspano]

Mark, thank you for this. I'm currently taking a Philosophy course on Wittgenstein, and I wish my instructor was able to articulate the text as efficiently as you have. I keep coming back to your video for help in my own understanding of the material. Ugh.

[swatkat]

Fascinating explanation of the language games! Finally trying to understand why i trust animals more than humans, because they don't play language games

[chriscockrell]

2:00 Life Timeline
10:00 Keyworks
12:00 Ludwig Wittenstein's Philosophical ideas (of language)
The method of description, the idea of objects that can be pointed to and associated with, the way that a child learns very basic stereotypes.
Language games, where people interact with one another in an attempt to define or establish value as they choose to structure it, often that can be as simple as what brings a person joy or happiness.
Family resemblances?
Rejection of philosophical systems, thinking that the mechanics of language don’t have a rule or are not valuable in and of itself, essentially it is saying that the mechanics of language doesn’t matter, The bottom up understanding of language is not important, rather it is the top down understanding of language that defines meaning.
Philosophy as therapy, means that philosophy is not about understanding, truth, or establishing meaning, but rather has a purpose of helping us as individuals self reconcile, much like therapy helps us understand ourselves and come to terms with who we are.
Aspect blindness.
18:00 Augustines quote of how he learns language. The simplistic view of learning language, and forming associations (ostenible). Augustine however talks about intense motives desires, all things that the author appears to completely ignore. He also ignores that a child has no concepts to work with and is in the process of developing concepts to work with. A child has no way through experience of understanding complex ideas. Much of the intent and motives that people have. I find this view of learning language far more simplistic that is logical.
21:00 The five red Apple analogy looks at words as having definitions and finite associations and suggesting that counting to five is a form of how we do something, Is a use of language and within the use of language we find meaning. When he explores what is the meaning of meaning, he suggests that use is the meaning of meaning. That makes me laugh for two reasons. He completely ignores that his ideas of definition the simplistic natural view of language is a use of words that it would in someway not have meaning, it meets exactly what he has said meaning would be the use of language. And second what understanding is a person showing by saying the meaning of meaning. Any person making self referential statements like that has a very poor understanding of language.There are many different ways to paint that idea, you can discuss what winning looks like and the associated experiences.
We will learn language is by training and doing, not explanation. That is true when we are children in is not true when we are adults as adults it is easier to learn with training but without good explanation mastery of the use of language is retarded. He completely ignores that learning language as an adult is drastically different explanation is extremely valuable. Then he moves to the idea of a game and the games must be played for them to have meaning and another person must be involved for them to have meaning.
He says that language is like a city with different suburbs.
Soul is not about being an object, according to Fraga, but it is also defined by the context. He points to a religious context any music context. Seems like that is ignoring that a persons soul is a non-physical part of who they are. In the context of religion, the concept is being used to explain an afterlife and a form of mental anguish while the musical context is expressing who the individual is. In both cases a soul is tied to the person in a non-physical way.

[arronax]

I cant believe you referenced Norm McDonald!!!

[chriscockrell]

Soul is not about being an object, according to Fraga, but it is also defined by the context. He points to a religious context any music context. Seems like that is ignoring that a persons soul is a non-physical part of who they are. In the context of religion, the concept is being used to explain an afterlife and a form of mental anguish while the musical context is expressing who the individual is. In both cases a soul is tied to the person in a non-physical way

[Human_Evolution-]

The single point that sticks with me the most about Wittgenstein is when he says meaning is use. I often find Wittgenstein pragmatic, especially his later work.

[oceanpiegai]

great video but can confirm afaik thumbs up means the same in australia as in america

[Ffkslawlnkn]

I do not think that in the example with the 5 red apples any of the words apple, red and five works by signifying an object. The word apple does not stand for an apple - or at least isn't used that way in this language game - but simply tells the seller to open the drawer with the word apple written on it. Neither does the word red stand for the colour. It is used to communicate which colour sample has to be used to compare the apples to to choose the correct ones.

[gerhitchman]

21:55 ... no... that is NOT the Augustinian view of language. W is using this example to *contrast* his view (functional) to Augistine's.

[Human_Evolution-]

Great upload so far, the audio could be better. I hear static, it is still listenable so it's OK.

[chriscockrell]

He says that language is like a city with different suburbs.

[DavidJonesy]

Magnum opus of work? you know what 'opus' means, do you?

[artlessons]

this video was posted five years ago. > Do you still reply in 2023?

[akashakash-]

Sound quality is not good at do something about

[PpinkasArp]

The Tractatus is a structural hierarchy ? really ? How ?