• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
WITTGENSTEIN’S THERAPY:MAKING PROBLEMS DISAPPEARbyAlan Parry, Ph.D.
“Don’t think, but look!” (66) Philosophy simply puts everything before us,and neither explains nor deduces anything.--Since everything lies open to view there is nothing to explain,for what is hidden . . . .is of no interest to us. (126).Philosophical Investigations..............The way to solve the problem you see in life is to live in a way that will make what is problematic disappear.The fact that life is problematic shows that the shape of your life does not fit into life's mould.So you must change the way you live and,once your life does fit into the mould,what is problematic will disappear.Culture & Value, p. 27 
Ludwig Wittgenstein Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) is one of the most fascinating andinfluential intellectual figures of the twentieth century. Indeed he hasbecome a mythic figure, a character in many novels and the subject ofseveral poems. A movie has been made that portrays his fascinating life andoften Zen-like utterances. In mythic stature, he is comparable amongintellectuals and scholars only to Einstein. While everyone has heard ofEinstein and most have not even heard of Wittgenstein, fascination with himis probably due to the fact that, as Eagleton (1993, p. 5) says, "Wittgensteinis the philosopher of poets and composers, playwrights and novelists and
Wittgenstein's Therapy Page 1
 
snatches of his mighty
Tractatus 
have even been set to music."Born the youngest, and considered the dullest, of eight children of awealthy, renowned and highly cultured family in
fin de siecle 
Vienna hearrived, unannounced and uncredentialed, as a young man at Cambridgewhere he pestered Bertrand Russell until the latter, as much in exasperationas interest, began to discuss philosophy and mathematics with him. Russellsoon recognized the genius of this singularly intense young man and saw himhis successor. World War I intervened and Wittgenstein went off to war onthe side of the Central Powers where he became a decorated war hero. Whilea prisoner of war he wrote the only book published in his lifetime, the great
Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1922/1961) 
for which he was eventuallyawarded his Ph.D. in 1929
.
Concluding that he had solved all the greatproblems of philosophy he abandoned the field, gave his siblings the immensefortune he had inherited from his father and became an elementary schoolteacher in rural Austria where he taught for six years. He designed to everylast detail a house for his sister which is a masterpiece of modernistarchitecture. He had discussions with members of the Vienna Circle, but theywere with those with a Marxist philosopher, Pietro Sraffa, that he realizedthere was more to philosophy and language than he had previously realized.He returned to Cambridge in 1929 as suddenly as he had left andestablished a second distinctive approach to philosophy, best represented inhis posthumous
Philosophical Investigations 
(1953) the only other book heactually ever wrote. He left philosophy again with the outbreak of World WarII to serve as a hospital orderly. Wittgenstein died in 1951 of prostatecancer; his dying words: "Tell them I've had a wonderful life."While he can be said to have founded two distinctive approaches tophilosophy, in many other fields his influence is only beginning to be felt. Oneof these fields is the talking cure where language is obviously central,particularly in the relationship therapies about which I hope to demonstratethe singular relevance of "Wittgenstein's therapy" in as close as my limitedabilities are able to manage to his unique style of writing in propositions. Ifound, in fact, that Wittgenstein's work lends itself to this way of writing.1. It is remarkable that so little effort has been made thus far to spell outthe therapeutic implications of Wittgenstein's philosophy. Newman (1996)himself a philosopher, has addressed this subject, as has Shawver (2001) inmany of her writings and communications. Although not writing from aspecifically therapeutic position Shotter (1994, 1997) has clarified
Wittgenstein's Therapy Page 2
 
Wittgenstein's work in a way that makes it most helpful to therapists.Wittgenstein himself saw connections between philosophy and therapystating, for instance, that: "The philosopher's treatment of a question is likethe treatment of an illness" (
PI 
, 253). He also said: "There is not
a 
 philosophical method, although there are indeed methods, like differenttherapies" (
PI 
, 133). Their application should result in "
complete 
clarity"which should then have the effect that "philosophical problems should
completely 
disappear" (133). Since, from Wittgenstein's perspective,philosophical problems are problems that have to do with language and theways we use and misuse it, they must, of necessity, be problems in living.Indeed, he makes it clear that he sees no reason for doing philosophy unlessit makes a difference in one's life (
C & V 
, p. 85). "Working in philosophy . . . isreally more a working on oneself" (
C & V 
, p. 16). He also said: "Thoughts thatare at peace. That's what someone who philosophizes yearns for" (C & V, p.43). In that sense we must surely all, then, be philosophers! 2. One of Wittgenstein’s most frequently quoted statements is that,“Philosophy is a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by meansof language (
PI 
, 109).” As far as therapy is concerned, the source of thisbewitchment is threefold. First of all it lies in our habit of assuming that thewords we use are all that is necessary to get our message across. Secondlyit lies in the assumption that words simply correspond to the objects theyrefer to such that the words we are using, even with someone who disagreeswith us, describe an objective state of affairs. In other words, in view of theassumed correspondence between words and the objects they refer to, one'sown perceptions offer one a privileged view of reality. Anyone who disagreeswith that is either a fool or a liar. Thirdly, language bewitches us when welook for explanations of people's actions in hidden sources of motivation.Probably most of our theories of behavior are mounted on that foundation.Instead Wittgenstein argues that nothing is hidden. It is sufficient to limitour efforts to understand each other to the ways we commonly talk with oneanother, for when we talk that way we usually understand each other quiteadequately. Thus we have only to describe and not to explain what is going onwhen people express themselves for there is nothing to explain. 3. Language is a social activity. It is not a preparation or rehearsal foraction, but the activity that gives meaning to relationships. The meanings
Wittgenstein's Therapy Page 3
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...