Wittgenstein, Rules and Institutions

by Bloor,David

• ISBN13: 9780415161473
• ISBN10: 0415161479
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-07-22
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

David Bloor's challenging new evaluation of Wittgenstein's account of rules and rule-following brings together the rare combination of philosophical and sociological viewpoints. Wittgenstein enigmatically claimed that the way we follow rules is an "institution" without ever explaining what he meant by this term. Wittgenstein's contribution to the debate has since been subject to sharply opposed interpretations by "collectivist" and "individualist" readings by philosophers; in the light of this controversy, Bloor argues convincingly for a collectivist, sociological understanding of Wittgenstein's later work. Accessible and simply written, this book provides the first consistent sociological reading of Wittgenstein's work for many years.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix	(4)
Acknowledgements	xiii	(2)
Abbreviations	xv
1 INTRODUCTION	1	(8)
2 MEANING FINITISM	9	(18)
3 RULES AS INSTITUTIONS	27	(16)
4 CONSCTENTIOUSNESS	43	(15)
5 RULE SCEPTICISM	58	(16)
6 THE ANALOGY WITH VON MISES	74	(5)
7 INDIVIDUALISM	79	(12)
8 ISOLATION AND INNOVATION	91	(21)
9 RULES AND THE STATE OF NATURE	112	(22)
10 CONCLUSION	134	(11)
Notes	145	(13)
Bibliography	158	(7)
Name index	165	(2)
Subject index	167