TY - JOUR
T1 - Hertz and wittgensteins phieosophy of science
AU - Kjaergaard, Peter C.
PY - 2002/1/1
Y1 - 2002/1/1
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
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33845372747&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/A:1020703303373
DO - 10.1023/A:1020703303373
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:33845372747
SN - 0925-4560
VL - 33
SP - 121
EP - 149
JO - Journal for General Philosophy of Science
JF - Journal for General Philosophy of Science
IS - 1
ER -