The Nature of Truth in Wittgenstein's Later Philosophy

The Nature of Truth in Wittgenstein's Later Philosophy by Andrew Conley explores Ludwig Wittgenstein's transformative shift in understanding truth and meaning in language. In this book, Conley examines Wittgenstein's later works, primarily Philosophical Investigations and On Certainty, to unpack the philosopher's rejection of objective, abstract notions of truth. Wittgenstein argues that truth is not an external, independent property of statements, but is shaped by how language is used in specific social practices and communal language games. The book delves into Wittgenstein's ideas about certainty, the limits of language, and the dissolution of traditional philosophical problems that arise from misunderstandings about language. Conley offers a thorough analysis of Wittgenstein's critique of metaphysical philosophy and presents how his insights about the nature of truth challenge long-held assumptions in epistemology, ethics, and the philosophy of mind. Through this study, readers will gain a deeper understanding of how Wittgenstein's later philosophy reshapes our approach to truth and meaning, emphasizing the social, contextual, and practical aspects of language.