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.