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Religion in Wittgenstein's Mirror

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2010

D. Z. Phillips
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Extract

There is a well-known remark in Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations which even some philosophers sympathetic to his work have found very hard to accept. It reads:

Philosophy may in no way interfere with the actual use of language;

it can in the end only describe it.

For it cannot give it any foundation either.

It leaves everything as it is. (PI, I, 24)

Surely, it is said, that is carrying matters too far. Wittgenstein's hyperbole should be excused as a harmless stylistic flourish.

Type
Papers
Information
Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements , Volume 28 , March 1990 , pp. 135 - 150
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Philosophy and the contributors 1990

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References

1 Quoted in Rhees, Rush, ‘The Philosophy of Wittgenstein’ (Rhees, 1970, 43).Google Scholar

2 For a further discussion of this distinction see my paper, ‘Grammarians and Guardians’ (Phillips, 1988b)Google Scholar. The paper is placed in a wider context in my Faith After Foundationalism (Phillips, 1988a).Google Scholar

3 This accusation with others, equally unfounded, constitutes what has been called ‘Wittgensteinian Fideism’. I challenged the accusation, with textual evidence, in Belief, Change and Forms of Life (Phillips, 1986)Google Scholar. As far as I know, the challenge has not been answered by the critics who indulged in such accusations for twenty years. Some try to forget that the criticisms were ever made!

4 Winch, Peter, ‘Wittgenstein, Picture and Representation’ (Winch, 1987, 71–72).Google Scholar

5 I like the story of the mountain climber who, seeing his rope begin to fray on a steep climb, called out to the heavens in desperation, ‘Is there anyone there?’ A voice replied: ‘I am here my son. I am always with you. Let go the rope. Underneath are the everlasting arms.’ The climber paused, then shouted: ‘Is there anyone else there?’

6 Quoted from a letter by Rush Rhees (4 August 1970) in response to my book, Death and Immortality (Phillips, 1970).Google Scholar

7 An earlier version of the paper was read at a colloquium on Wittgenstein and the Philosophy of Culture at the Inter-University Centre, Dubrovnik, in May 1989, and to the Philosophical Society of the University College of Swansea. I benefited from the discussions on those occasions.