WAB: "Fragments" |
The audio contribution available from this site is a recording of
Kristóf Nyíri: Wittgenstein's philosophy of pictures, lecture given on 15.12.2001 at Wittgenstein Research Revisited: Reflecting upon 50 years of work on Wittgenstein and investigating future perspectives, conference at the University of Bergen, Norway,
12.-15.12.2001.
A revised version of the lecture is published in: Alois Pichler and Simo Säätelä (eds.): Wittgenstein: The philosopher and his works, Working Papers from the Wittgenstein Archives at the University of Bergen no. 17, Wittgenstein Archives at the University of Bergen (WAB) 2005.
Publication on this site with kind permission from the author (2005.4.25).
Kristóf Nyíri: Wittgenstein's philosophy of pictures
Abstract: In a series of papers since 1989 I have undertaken to show that Wittgenstein's later work can be usefully interpreted as a philosophy of post-literacy, and that his frequent references to Plato - the first and foremost philosopher of literacy - should be explained as attempts to arrive back at the juncture where Plato took the wrong turn. Throughout its history Western philosophy reflected the influence of linear written language; Wittgenstein was trying to liberate himself from that influence precisely at a time when post-literary modes of communication began to transform the civilization of the West. Written language as a source of philosophical confusion was Wittgenstein's real foe. He was not clearly aware of this, perhaps since his insights originated, to some extent at least, in an impairment: dyslexia. He was striving to overcome the pitfalls of written language by elaborating a philosophy of spoken - oral - language. And he attempted to overcome the barriers of verbal language by working towards a philosophy of pictures. It is this latter dimension in Wittgenstein's thinking I direct attention to in this paper.
Listen to lecture (QuickTime .mov format): © Text: Kristóf Nyíri, WAB. Audio: Kristóf Nyíri, Herbert Hrachovec, WAB.
If you don't have QuickTime installed, you can download it for free from here.
A revised version of the lecture is published in: Alois Pichler and Simo Säätelä (eds.): Wittgenstein: The philosopher and his works, Working Papers from the Wittgenstein Archives at the University of Bergen no. 17, Wittgenstein Archives at the University of Bergen (WAB) 2005.
Publication on this site with kind permission from the author (2005.4.25).
Kristóf Nyíri: Wittgenstein's philosophy of pictures
(Lecture in Bergen 15.12.2001)
Abstract: In a series of papers since 1989 I have undertaken to show that Wittgenstein's later work can be usefully interpreted as a philosophy of post-literacy, and that his frequent references to Plato - the first and foremost philosopher of literacy - should be explained as attempts to arrive back at the juncture where Plato took the wrong turn. Throughout its history Western philosophy reflected the influence of linear written language; Wittgenstein was trying to liberate himself from that influence precisely at a time when post-literary modes of communication began to transform the civilization of the West. Written language as a source of philosophical confusion was Wittgenstein's real foe. He was not clearly aware of this, perhaps since his insights originated, to some extent at least, in an impairment: dyslexia. He was striving to overcome the pitfalls of written language by elaborating a philosophy of spoken - oral - language. And he attempted to overcome the barriers of verbal language by working towards a philosophy of pictures. It is this latter dimension in Wittgenstein's thinking I direct attention to in this paper.
Listen to lecture (QuickTime .mov format): © Text: Kristóf Nyíri, WAB. Audio: Kristóf Nyíri, Herbert Hrachovec, WAB.
If you don't have QuickTime installed, you can download it for free from here.