TY - JOUR

T1 - Hertz and wittgensteins phieosophy of science

AU - Kjaergaard, Peter C.

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - The German physicist Heinrich Hertz played a decisive role for Wittgensteins use of a unique philosophical method. Wittgenstein applied this method successfully to critical problems in logic and mathematics throughout his life. Logical paradoxes and foundational problems including those of mathematics were seen as pseudo-problems requiring clarity instead of solution. In effect, Wittgensteins controversial response to David Hubert and Kurt Gödel was deeply influenced by Hertz and can only be fully understood when seen in this context. To comprehend the arguments against the metamathematical programme, and to appreciate how profoundly the philosophical method employed actually shaped the content of Wittgensteins philosophy, it is necessary to make an intellectual biographical reconstruction of their philosophical framework, tracing the Hertzian elements in the early as well as in the later writings. In order to write Wittgensteins biography, we have to take seriously the coherence of his thought throughout his life, and not let convenient philosophical ideologies be our guidance in drawing up a "Wittgensteinian philosophy". To do so, we have to take a second look upon what he actually wrote, not only in the already published material, but in the entire Nachlass. Clearly, this is not easily done, but it is a necessary task in the historical reconstruction of Wittgensteins life and work.

AB - The German physicist Heinrich Hertz played a decisive role for Wittgensteins use of a unique philosophical method. Wittgenstein applied this method successfully to critical problems in logic and mathematics throughout his life. Logical paradoxes and foundational problems including those of mathematics were seen as pseudo-problems requiring clarity instead of solution. In effect, Wittgensteins controversial response to David Hubert and Kurt Gödel was deeply influenced by Hertz and can only be fully understood when seen in this context. To comprehend the arguments against the metamathematical programme, and to appreciate how profoundly the philosophical method employed actually shaped the content of Wittgensteins philosophy, it is necessary to make an intellectual biographical reconstruction of their philosophical framework, tracing the Hertzian elements in the early as well as in the later writings. In order to write Wittgensteins biography, we have to take seriously the coherence of his thought throughout his life, and not let convenient philosophical ideologies be our guidance in drawing up a "Wittgensteinian philosophy". To do so, we have to take a second look upon what he actually wrote, not only in the already published material, but in the entire Nachlass. Clearly, this is not easily done, but it is a necessary task in the historical reconstruction of Wittgensteins life and work.

KW - Boltzmann

KW - Gödel

KW - Hertz

KW - Hubert

KW - Metamathematics

KW - Nineteenth-century physics

KW - Philosophy of science

KW - Picture theory

KW - Russell

KW - Wittgenstein

U2 - 10.1023/A:1020703303373

DO - 10.1023/A:1020703303373

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:33845372747

VL - 33

SP - 121

EP - 149

JO - Journal for General Philosophy of Science

JF - Journal for General Philosophy of Science

SN - 0925-4560

IS - 1

ER -