Wittgenstein and Darwin: An Essay on Evolution and Language

Mohammadreza Memarsadeghi
Department of Philosophy, University of British Columbia

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     Last modified: February 14, 2005
     Presentation date: 07/14/2005 4:00 PM in ROZH 107
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Abstract
Influenced by Frege and Russell, Wittgenstein’s early anti-naturalist attitude led him to turn his back completely to Darwin, and to say that Darwin's theory “has no more to do with philosophy than any other hypothesis in natural science” [1]. It appears, in addition, that Wittgenstein was skeptical of Darwin’s theory throughout his life [2]. However this paper is going to show that, ironically (1) Wittgenstein's central ideas of “language is a form of life” and “meaning is use”, which he developed in the second half of his life, are in fact pragmatic views on the nature of language, (2) which in turn can be best and most directly explained by Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.


[1]. Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus 4.1122.

[2] Rhees, Rush (ed.), Ludwig Wittgenstein: Personal Recollections, Basil Blackwell, Oxford, 1981, p. 174.