The Origins of Wittgenstein’s Phenomenology

Abstract

Despite the improvement in the state of research concerning Wittgenstein’s “middle
period” since the publication of the Nachlaß, the topic of
Wittgenstein’s phenomenology and its origin(s) have not received adequate attention.
This paper focuses on the latter issue by taking a closer look at several of the
potential sources of Wittgenstein’s sudden and surprising use of the terms
“phenomenology” and “phenomenological language.” The obvious question as to a
possible link to Husserl and Heidegger (among others) will be addressed.