Rediscovering Wittgenstein’s Ideas on the Nature of Mental Phenomena

Authors

  • Rajakishore Nath
  • Mamata Manhari Panda

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the nature of mental phenomena with special reference to Wittgenstein’s philosophy of mind. Wittgenstein’s main concern is not with the construction of any philosophical theory about these mental phenomena. He is concerned with the dissolution of puzzles that arise because of the linguistic misunderstandings about the nature of mental phenomena. Mental phenomena are generally very complex. The words that try to capture mental phenomena do not have clear grammar. Hence, statements describing mental phenomena mislead us. Therefore, linguistic misconceptions or misunderstandings are the main sources of any philosophical problem on the human mind.

References

In Philosophical Investigations (Part-I, Section 355), Wittgenstein discusses the language of sense-experience or sense impression. Analogically, we can use the language of mental phenomena through which we can express the various mental phenomena.

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Ibid., Remarks No. 154.

Ibid., Remarks No. 139.

Ibid., Remarks No. 122.

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2021-10-01

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