Philosophical Investigations

Historical Context and Significance

Ludwig Wittgenstein's «Philosophical Investigations» is one of the key works of the 20th century in the field of philosophy of language and analytical philosophy. Published posthumously in 1953, this book had a profound impact on the development of philosophical studies of language, thought, and consciousness. Wittgenstein critiqued and re-evaluated the ideas presented in his earlier work «Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus», questioning the possibility of a universal language of science, which he had previously sought to create. «Philosophical Investigations» offered a new perspective on language and its functions, introducing the concept of 'language games' and emphasizing the contextual nature of word meanings. This work significantly influenced the formation of movements such as post-structuralism and cognitive science, strengthening the position of analytical philosophy in the global philosophical community.