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Saying and Showing (Moore, Russell, and Early Wittgenstein) | Philosophy Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

Introduction


Context and Origins of Philosophy of Language

  • Philosophy of language: A branch of philosophy exploring language's nature, origin, and use.
  • Fundamental questions: What is meaning? How do words refer to the world? Language-thought relationship.
  • Ancient roots: Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle.
  • 20th-century focus: Analytic philosophy emphasizing clarity, precision, and logical analysis.
  • Key figures: G.E. Moore, Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Role of Saying and Showing in Moore, Russell, and Early Wittgenstein

  • Saying: Expressing information in language.
  • Showing: Making something evident without stating it.
  • Explores language's limits and its representation of the world.
  • Moore used it to defend common beliefs.
  • Russell applied it in logical atomism.
  • Wittgenstein used it to understand language's limits.

Impact and Continuity of Saying and Showing in Contemporary Discussions

G.E. Moore: Defense of Commonsense


Moore’s Commonsense Philosophy

  • Emphasizes everyday beliefs and experiences as a philosophical starting point.
  • Counters skepticism and idealism.
  • "Proof of an external world": Demonstrated external reality through ordinary experience.

Saying and Showing in Moore’s Arguments

  • Distinguishes between saying and showing.
  • Argues that showing through experience is more reliable than abstract philosophical arguments.
  • Critics question the validity of Moore's approach.

Bertrand Russell: Logical Atomism


Russell’s Logical Atomism

  • Analyzes complex statements into basic "logical atoms."
  • Influenced by logic, set theory, and the theory of types.
  • Focuses on logical structure of language.

Saying and Showing in Russell’s Theory of Descriptions

  • Introduces incomplete symbols.
  • Shows relationships between objects and properties.
  • Complex statements can be reduced to atomic components.

Ludwig Wittgenstein: Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus


Wittgenstein’s Early Philosophy

  • Presented in the Tractatus.
  • Aims to explain language's logical structure and its relation to the world.
  • Picture theory of meaning: Language represents the world through "pictures."

Saying and Showing in the Tractatus

  • Distinguishes between saying and showing.
  • Language mirrors logical structure of the world.
  • Certain aspects of the world can only be shown, not said.
  • Critics debate Wittgenstein's distinction.

Comparing Saying and Showing in Moore, Russell, and Early Wittgenstein


Similarities

  • All influential figures in analytic philosophy.
  • Use saying and showing to explore language's limits and world representation.
  • Emphasize language's logical structure.

Differences

  • Moore: Defends commonsense, values experience.
  • Russell: Develops logical atomism, analyzes relationships.
  • Wittgenstein: Focuses on language's limits, highlights representation.

Influence on Each Other's Work

  • Russell influenced by Moore's commonsense philosophy.
  • Wittgenstein influenced by Russell's logic and philosophy of language.
  • Dialogue and debate among the three philosophers.

Impact on Analytic Philosophy

  • Contributions shape analytic philosophy.
  • Influence on meaning, reference, and truth studies.
  • Ideas remain relevant in contemporary discussions.

Criticisms and Counterarguments


Criticisms of Moore’s Defense of Commonsense

  • Over-reliance on intuition and experience.
  • "Proof of an external world" questioned.
  • Critics debate the value of showing over saying.

Criticisms of Russell’s Logical Atomism

  • Oversimplification and reductionism.
  • Concerns about reducing complex statements to atomic components.
  • Criticisms of incomplete symbols and distinction between saying and showing.

Criticisms of Wittgenstein’s Picture Theory of Meaning

  • Oversimplification of language.
  • Doubts about language mirroring the world's logical structure.
  • Criticisms of Wittgenstein's distinction between saying and showing.

Counterarguments and Responses

  • Moore's defense balances skepticism, values everyday experience.
  • Russell's approach offers insights despite criticisms.
  • Wittgenstein's perspective provides valuable insights on language and meaning.

Saying and Showing in Later Analytic Philosophy


Legacy in Later Analytic Philosophy

  • Austin explores performative aspects.
  • Ryle critiques Cartesian dualism.
  • Quine delves into indeterminacy of translation.
  • Developments and modifications of saying and showing.

Continuing Relevance in Contemporary Philosophy of Language

  • Current philosophers engage with these concepts.
  • Exploration of language's limits, meaning, and context.
  • Saying and showing remain relevant in contemporary debates.

Conclusion


  • Saying and showing, introduced by Moore, Russell, and early Wittgenstein, continue to shape the philosophy of language.
  • Concepts remain influential and relevant in contemporary discussions of meaning, reference, and understanding.
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