Understanding Wittgenstein's positive philosophy through language‐games: Giving philosophy peace

Abstract

AbstractA significant discrepancy in Wittgenstein's studies is whether Philosophical Investigations contains any trace of positive philosophy, notwithstanding the author's apparent anti‐theoretic position. This study argues that the so‐called ‘Chapter on philosophy’ in the Investigations §§89–133 contains negative and positive vocabulary and the use of various voices through which Wittgenstein employs his primary method of language‐games, thus providing a surveyable understanding of several philosophical concepts, such as knowledge and time. His positive philosophy aims to reorient our attention from understanding the theories on these concepts to understanding the concepts themselves, regardless of any theorisation.