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Wittgenstein on Simile as the “Best Thing” in Philosophy†
Article first published online: 13 JUL 2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9205.2011.01444.x
© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
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How to Cite
Erden, Y. J. (2012), Wittgenstein on Simile as the “Best Thing” in Philosophy. Philosophical Investigations, 35: 127–137. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9205.2011.01444.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 20 MAR 2012
- Article first published online: 13 JUL 2011
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Abstract
In a remark written sometime between 1933 and 1943, Wittgenstein suggests that philosophy ought really to be written as one “writes a poem.” Around this time he also talks of simile as the “best thing” in philosophy. In this paper I consider what it would mean to take such claims seriously. Through examining newly discovered material from the (unpublished) Skinner manuscripts (MSS), I offer an analysis of Wittgenstein's approach to literary techniques (broadly conceived) and see how this impacts on his conception of philosophy.