Language, Action, and Mind: Language-game and Attitude Ascription

Abstract

There are two major philosophical views proposed by Wittgenstein. His earlier view is
described in Tractatus, and his later one is expressed in Philosophical
Investigations (PI). The transition of his views roughly corresponds to the
transition of views in analytical philosophy in the twentieth century. Tractatus is
based on a correspondence theory of truth, which is related to his picture theory of
meaning. According to this theory, a sentence has components that represent elements
of reality. In PI he criticized this idea, and pointed out that there are different
kinds of language-games. The later Wittgenstein was interested in how language is
used, and how its use is connected to human actions and behaviors.