Title: Wittgenstein, Empiricism, and Language Purchase Item Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA List Price: $83.00 Our Price: $60.20
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Wittgenstein, Empiricism, and Language by Oxford University Press, USA Wittgenstein's method and phenomenalism
This book contains an interesting and controversial view of Wittgenstein as a phenomenalist. Cook lays out, using several passages from Wittgenstein's "Philosophical Investagations", the main reasons that he asserts that Wittgenstein is engaged in a phenomenalist project, much akin to Berkeley's idealism. The main force of the book tends to focus on the various kinds of Ordinary Language Philosophy: Standard, Metaphysical, and Investigative. Cook points out a common misunderstanding that many of Wittgenstein's followers have made, viz. they have mistaken Wittgenstein to be presenting a Standard Ordinary Language view similar to G.E. Moore. Cook suggests that philosophers like Hans Sluga, O.K. Bouwsma, and Norman Malcolm have misunderstood Wittgenstein to be asserting that ordinary language is an ontological map for indicating what kinds of things exist. However, Cook proposes that Wittgenstein, knowingly or not, is engaged in a Metaphysical Ordinary Language method. Wittgenstein has adopted a metaphysical view, phenomenalism, and conforms our ordinary language to fit this metaphysical view point. So in S116 of the "Investigations" where Wittgenstein claims that his philosophical method's goal is "to bring words back from their metaphysical to their everyday use" , is either misleading or Wittgenstein himself does not realize the implications of his own philosophical method. Cook concludes that Wittgenstein should have engaged in an Investigative Ordinary Language method: a method that examines examples of language use in order to gain an understanding of the meaning of a word. This interpretation of Wittgenstein seems to be a point of contention, as there are many passages in the "Investigations" where Wittgenstein discusses "language-games" and "meaning as use within a language-game"--these passages make Wittgenstein's method appear to be more closely related to an Investigative Ordinary Language project. The complexity of Cook's view and the intriguing controversial nature of the book keeps one focused on the material as one reads; as well as considering many possible objections to be raised in response later. "Wittgenstein, Empiricism, and Language" draws out many difficulties in understanding Wittgenstein's "Philosophical Investigations" in a manner that allows the reader to get back into Wittgenstein's original material and work through the difficulties on one's own. I would recommend this book to anyone who has thoroughly read Wittgenstein's "Philosophical Investigations" to further their understanding of the main facets of Wittgenstein's philosophical method.
Wittgenstein, Empiricism, and Language by Oxford University Press, USA Wittgenstein devalued
This certainly is a provocative work and one that is not wholly incorrect. Part III, which deals with ordinary language philosophy, is well worth reading. The main problem with the book, though, is that it seems to read Wittgenstin's work in accordance with what might be called the principle of uncharity. Going directly against Wittgenstein's claims about what he was doing in his philosophical work, Cook insists on interpreting his remarks as advancing a metaphysical theory, and not even a very good one. The amount of reading of Wittgenstein's work that Cook has obviously done is impressive, but his treatment of the secondary literature is much less so. For the most part it is either ignored or discussed (and dismissed) rather briefly in footnotes. This is a major flaw, since Cook needs to show that his unconventional and unflattering reading is an improvement on others. Cook's Wittgenstein might be understandable and relatively consistent (apart from those inconvenient methodological remarks of Wittgenstein's) but the open-minded reader will at least wonder why so many seemingly intelligent people have thought Wittgenstein worth reading. Cook cannot provide any answer without discussing alternative interpretations at much greater length.
Wittgenstein, Empiricism, and Language by Oxford University Press, USA Wittgenstein revisited and reevaluated
This is a radical and excellent reanalysis of Wittgenstein's thought, unique, as far as I know, among the large secondary literature on his work. It shows convincingly and clearly that, and how, Wittgenstein's fundamental ONTOLOGICAL position (a kind of empiricisms, neutral monism, phenomenalism) didn't change throughout his work. Cook's views go directly against the received view (that Wittgenstein's work is biphaisic, shifting after his Tractatus, and that Wittgenstein rejects all metaphysics) and apparently, according to the author, generated much indignation and rebuttal attempts by reviewers and critics. His interpretation unifies Wittgenstein's work and makes it quite understandable rather than paradoxical. I found Cook's arguments compelling and highly informative; they also indirectly raise other interesting and important questions about ontology (especially of language) and epistemology. I highly recomment this book, and its earlier companion work (1994). (I know nothing about the author, and have not been able to find out biographical data.) It is a pity that both books are not available in paper.
Wittgenstein, Empiricism, and Language by Oxford University Press, USA Product Description
This provocative study exposes the ways in which Wittgenstein's philosophical views have been misunderstood, including the failure to recognize the reductionist character of Wittgenstein's work. Author John Cook provides well-documented proof that Wittgenstein did not hold views commonly attributed to him, arguing that Wittgenstein's later work was mistakenly seen as a development of G. E. Moore's philosophy--which Wittgenstein in fact vigorously attacked. He also points to an underestimation of Russell's influence on Wittgenstein's thinking. Cook goes on to show how these misunderstandings have had grave consequences for philosophy at large, and proposes that a more subtle appreciation of linguistic philosophy can yield valuable results.

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