About the lecture

In this module, we introduce Wittgenstein’s language games in the context of his wider philosophy, focusing in particular on (i) Wittgenstein’s project of liberating minds, as delineated in his two major works: Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, and Philosophical Investigations (ii) the meaning and purpose of language games (iii) the nature of the analogy between language and games (iv) the significance of ‘family resemblances’ in undoing the dogma of language essentialism (v) removing misconceptions about language games (vi) language as a form of life (vii) the variety of language games.

About the lecturer

Dr Rupert Read is an associate professor of philosophy at UEA. His research interests are in the philosophy of language, Wittgenstein, Kuhn, philosophy of Literature and film, philosophy of psychology, and eco-philosophy. He is an expert on Ludwig Wittgenstein, and has published numerous books on the application of his thought to a range of topics. His recent publications include Wittgenstein's Liberatory Philosophy and Beyond the Tractatus Wars: A New Wittgensteinian Debate