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Project
Philosophy as therapy? An inquiry into the application of a Wittgensteinian idea in the moral realm.
In his Philosophical Investigations, Wittgenstein compares philosophy to therapy: philosophy is a method that cures of the disease of seeing problems where there are no problems. This delusion is widespread among philosophers, because they are constantly misled by language. A lot of so-called philosophical problems are meaningless and can be dissolved by showing that they are.
My research is, firstly, aimed at giving a detailed account of what philosophical therapy is, what role it plays inWittgensteins thinking, how it has been interpreted and how it can be applied. Secondly, using the problem of moral skepticism (can we doubt that killing innocent people is wrong?) as a case study, I will investigate whether Wittgensteinian therapy works for moral problems. Neither Wittgenstein nor his commentators have emphasized this question, but the answer is of paramount importance for understanding what philosophical therapy is: it will tell us something about its scope. As a consequence, a deeper understanding of Wittgensteins philosophy, the specificity of moral problems in relation to philosophical therapy, the methodology of moral philosophy and the (im)possibility of implementing therapy in contemporary philosophical practices will be gained.
My research is, firstly, aimed at giving a detailed account of what philosophical therapy is, what role it plays inWittgensteins thinking, how it has been interpreted and how it can be applied. Secondly, using the problem of moral skepticism (can we doubt that killing innocent people is wrong?) as a case study, I will investigate whether Wittgensteinian therapy works for moral problems. Neither Wittgenstein nor his commentators have emphasized this question, but the answer is of paramount importance for understanding what philosophical therapy is: it will tell us something about its scope. As a consequence, a deeper understanding of Wittgensteins philosophy, the specificity of moral problems in relation to philosophical therapy, the methodology of moral philosophy and the (im)possibility of implementing therapy in contemporary philosophical practices will be gained.
Date:13 Sep 2012 → 30 Sep 2016
Keywords:Wittgenstein, Philosophical method, Therapy, Ethics, Moral scepticism, Scepticism, Metaethics
Disciplines:Theory and methodology of philosophy, Ethics, Other philosophy, ethics and religious studies not elsewhere classified, Philosophy
Project type:PhD project