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Jim__

(14,075 posts)
9. Philosophy is a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by means of language - Wittgenste
Thu Jul 10, 2014, 01:22 PM
Jul 2014

From Philosophical Investigations:

109. It was true to say that our considerations could not be scientific ones. It was not of any possible interest to us to find out empirically 'that, contrary to our preconceived ideas, it is possible to think such-and-such'—whatever that may mean. (The
conception of thought as a gaseous medium.) And we may not advance any kind of theory. There must not be anything hypothetical
in our considerations. We must do away with all explanation, and description alone must take its place. And this description
gets its light, that is to say its purpose, from the philosophical problems. These are, of course, not empirical problems;
they are solved, rather, by looking into the workings of our language, and that in such a way as to make us recognize those
workings: in despite of an urge to misunderstand them. The problems are solved , not by giving new information, but by
arranging what we have always known. Philosophy is a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by means of language.


And, yes, by setting up philosophy as a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence, we risk bewitching our intelligence through philosophizing. It is an on-going battle, and if we tend to increase our bewitchment, hopefully, someone points that out to us.
To the sages of old, TM99 Jun 2014 #1
That's very well said. nt delrem Jun 2014 #3
This message was self-deleted by its author Sweeney Nov 2014 #15
What you wrote does not contradict nor correct me. TM99 Nov 2014 #18
This message was self-deleted by its author Sweeney Nov 2014 #19
This message was self-deleted by its author Sweeney Nov 2014 #21
When I read the OP Fortinbras Armstrong Jun 2014 #2
I would take your questioned ethics/morality delrem Jul 2014 #4
You seem to be saying that I am bigoted against myself. Fortinbras Armstrong Jul 2014 #5
I was only questioning your language. delrem Jul 2014 #6
It appears that you did not understand me Fortinbras Armstrong Jul 2014 #7
You aren't alone. I don't understand many people. delrem Jul 2014 #8
This message was self-deleted by its author Sweeney Nov 2014 #14
I like your posts! delrem Nov 2014 #16
This message was self-deleted by its author Sweeney Nov 2014 #20
All I can do is repeat what I said before. Fortinbras Armstrong Nov 2014 #17
This message was self-deleted by its author Sweeney Nov 2014 #22
First, the paragraph is your friend, and even more the reader's friend Fortinbras Armstrong Nov 2014 #24
Philosophy is a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by means of language - Wittgenste Jim__ Jul 2014 #9
I'm not a fan of Wittgenstein. delrem Jul 2014 #10
This message was self-deleted by its author Sweeney Nov 2014 #23
To defeat a goal? Expat in Korea Oct 2014 #11
I like this answer. nt delrem Nov 2014 #12
This message was self-deleted by its author Sweeney Nov 2014 #13
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