Further tips on the Wittgenstein question
Jun 25, 2013 3:48:17 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2013 3:48:17 GMT -5
Popular Mr. Ground is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sunderland, as well as Secretary of the British Wittgenstein Society. And as every one knows Wittgenstein was just another of the long procession of rich boys favoured by the Oxford establishment ever since 1096.
Aware that the interpretation and significance of Wittgenstein's writings has often been matter of concern among people such as our members, Mr. Ground has written in to explain what he thinks in relation to a number of points.
"Scientists can make shattering progress in science without ever reflecting on the nature of the scientific enterprise. Mathematicians may think it a positive virtue never to reflect on the character of their activity. It just isn't like this for philosophers. To the philosophical kibitzer, the philosopher's concern with the nature of philosophy itself can seem like intellectual narcissism. But that impression is mistaken." Well! There is a word - kibitzer - I have never ever encountered! But fortunately I was able to find it in the Oxford English Dictionary, which describes it as a "Yiddishism"; I suppose that tells us where Mr. Ground is coming from.
We are honoured by the presence among our membership of at least one scientist of some eminence; though I have never ventured enquiry about the nature of his particular field of speciality, assuming that in the natural course of things it would sooner or later emerge. I wonder whether he has ever reflected upon the nature of the scientific enterprise? Judging from little things he has let fall the answer is almost certainly affirmative.
Mr. Ground goes on to discuss Wittgenstein's remark that "Philosophical problems have the form: I don't know my way about," which amounts, according to Mr. Ground, to "the claim that the idea of a single, repeatable method in philosophy is misguided. We must learn instead to make our own way in thought - to master 'the geography of concepts,' so that philosophy is like 'travelling in a landscape with a view to constructing a map.'"
But there already I become suspicious of Mr. Ground's motives. He reminds me of some one saying "person A describes Brahms's Fourth Symphony as sublime; person B describes the same work as rubbish; it is a matter of individual taste; each is entitled to his own individual view in matters of taste." That way lies the collapse of civilisations! Levellers are as bad as deleters are they not.
I will have more to say about Mr. Ground's contribution to-morrow.
Aware that the interpretation and significance of Wittgenstein's writings has often been matter of concern among people such as our members, Mr. Ground has written in to explain what he thinks in relation to a number of points.
"Scientists can make shattering progress in science without ever reflecting on the nature of the scientific enterprise. Mathematicians may think it a positive virtue never to reflect on the character of their activity. It just isn't like this for philosophers. To the philosophical kibitzer, the philosopher's concern with the nature of philosophy itself can seem like intellectual narcissism. But that impression is mistaken." Well! There is a word - kibitzer - I have never ever encountered! But fortunately I was able to find it in the Oxford English Dictionary, which describes it as a "Yiddishism"; I suppose that tells us where Mr. Ground is coming from.
We are honoured by the presence among our membership of at least one scientist of some eminence; though I have never ventured enquiry about the nature of his particular field of speciality, assuming that in the natural course of things it would sooner or later emerge. I wonder whether he has ever reflected upon the nature of the scientific enterprise? Judging from little things he has let fall the answer is almost certainly affirmative.
Mr. Ground goes on to discuss Wittgenstein's remark that "Philosophical problems have the form: I don't know my way about," which amounts, according to Mr. Ground, to "the claim that the idea of a single, repeatable method in philosophy is misguided. We must learn instead to make our own way in thought - to master 'the geography of concepts,' so that philosophy is like 'travelling in a landscape with a view to constructing a map.'"
But there already I become suspicious of Mr. Ground's motives. He reminds me of some one saying "person A describes Brahms's Fourth Symphony as sublime; person B describes the same work as rubbish; it is a matter of individual taste; each is entitled to his own individual view in matters of taste." That way lies the collapse of civilisations! Levellers are as bad as deleters are they not.
I will have more to say about Mr. Ground's contribution to-morrow.
