Austin and Wittgenstein
Austin occupies a place in philosophy of language alongside Wittgenstein and his fellow Oxonian, Ryle, in staunchly advocating the examination of the way words are ordinarily used in order to elucidate meaning and by this means avoid philosophical confusions. Unlike many ordinary language philosophers, however, Austin disavowed any overt indebtedness to Wittgenstein's later philosophy, calling Wittgenstein a "charlatan". His main influence, he said, was the exact and exacting common-sense philosophy of G. E. Moore. His training as a classicist and linguist influenced his later work.
Read more about this topic: J. L. Austin
Famous quotes containing the words austin and/or wittgenstein:
“Certainly, then, ordinary language is not the last word: in
principle it can everywhere be supplemented and improved upon, and superseded. Only remember, it is the first word.”
—John Austin (1911–1960)
“It is so characteristic, that just when the mechanics of reproduction are so vastly improved, there are fewer and fewer people who know how the music should be played.”
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951)