Narrative Identity and the Case for Wittgensteinian Metaphysics

Abstract

This paper defends the possibility of Wittgensteinian metaphysics. Though
Wittgenstein seems to have nothing substantial to say on, e.g., personal identity, a
comparison of his work to that of Ricoeur shows that Wittgenstein actually offers
some constructive insights concerning the self. He and Ricoeur not only criticize the
same kind of theories on identity, they also provide similar alternatives to these
theories. This indicates that there can indeed be metaphysics after, and on the basis
of, Wittgenstein.