Wittgenstein's Later Theory of Meaning

Wittgenstein's Later Theory of Meaning: Imagination and Calculation presents a comprehensive analysis and exploration of the significance of Wittgenstein's later philosophy of language for a theory of meaning. Proposing that there is a network of systematically connected insights to be found in Wittgenstein's later writings that is of epistemological relevance, renowned philosopher and Wittgenstein scholar Hans Julius Schneider attempts to free Wittgenstein from his reputation as an unsystematic thinker with nothing to offer but therapy for individual cases of philosophical confusion. Schneider argues his points by first summarizing Gottlob Frege's philosophy of language, then engaging in close readings of a variety of Wittgenstein's texts to explore what he really has to say about kinds of words and parts of speech. Subsequent chapters explore and answer questions centered on the concepts of imagination and projection; discuss Wittgenstein's struggle with his older models of linguistic complexity; and spell out the consequences for the project of a theory of meaning. Innovative and original, Wittgenstein's Later Theory of Meaning represents an important and invaluable contribution to Wittgenstein scholarship that offers rich new insights into one of the 20th century's most influential philosophers.