Fodor’s Misconstrual of Wittgenstein in the Language of Thought
In his book, The Language of Thought, Jerry Fodor claims that i) Wittgenstein’s private language argument is not in fact against Fodor’s theory, and ii) Wittgenstein’s private language argument “isn’t really any good” (70). In this paper I hope to show that Fodor’s second claim is patently false. In aid of this I will consider Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations (243-363), Jerry Fodor's The Language of Thought (55-97), as well as Anthony Kenny’s Wittgenstein (178-202). First I shall summarize Wittgenstein’s argument; then I will examine Fodor’s response and explain why it is fallacious. In my view, Fodor is wrong because he takes Wittgenstein to be a verificationist, and also because he makes a false analogy between people and computers.
Anthony Kenny, in his book Wittgenstein, provides a concise summary and penetrating interpretation of Wittgenstein’s so-called “private language argument” (henceforth “PLA”). According to Kenny, the basic agenda of the PLA can be summed up in a quotation from Wittgenstein’s Tractatus: "Scepticism is not irrefutable, but obviously nonsensical, when it tries to raise doubts where no questions can be asked. For doubt only can exist where a question exists, a question only where an answer exists, and an answer only where something can be said." (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, 6.51) In making his argument, Wittgenstein addresses the belief that the knowledge we have of our own experiences can be expressed to ourselves or others, and that this expression does not assume acquaintance with the external world or other minds. Logically entailed by these beliefs is the idea that there is a private language in which words derive their meaning by being linked with private experiences. In other words, a subject forms “internal ostensive definitions.” This means simply that the subject is exposed to and attends to an experience and associates it with a word. For Wittgenstein, this view is mistaken: experience is not private, and words do not acquire meaning by bare ostensive definition. Wittgenstein takes “private language” to mean a language in which words refer to the immediate private sensations of the speaker in this manner of private ostensive definitions. If a speaker has a certain sensation, she does not necessarily know that sensation only from her own case.
Computationalism: the view that computation, an abstract notion of materialism lacking semantics and real-world interaction, offers an explanatory basis for human comprehension. The main purpose of this paper is to discuss and compare different views regarding computationalism, and the arguments associated with these views. The two main arguments I feel are the strongest are proposed by Andy Clark, in “Mindware: Meat Machines”, and John Searle in “Minds, Brains, and Programs.”
In 1898, Britain and Egypt took control over Sudan. This didn’t include Darfur, which was an independent territory ruled by a sultan. In 1916, Britain added Darfur to the territory it controlled. After World War II, in 1945, Britain and Egypt began preparing Sudan for independence. From 1945-1989, Darfur -remote from Khartoum and having invaluable resources- suffered neglect from all governments. Sudan has been independence since 1956. However, the journey that led to Sudan’s genocide in Darfur began in the late 1800s. It’s a complicated tale that involves conquest; internal politics; social, ethnical, racial, and re...
Medical College of Wisconsin. “Facts About Anthrax and Smallpox as Bioterrorism Weapons.” Healthlink. 12 Nov. 2001. Medical College of Wisconsin. 24 July 2008 .
Sudan, in ancient times was the kingdom of Nubia. Nubia was Egyptian, ruled around 2600 B.C. Sudan has had quite a diverse and interesting past shaping the country to what we now call Sudan. From the civil, war of the National Islamic Front and the People’s Liberation Army to the discovery of oil. Southern and Northern Sudan is rich in history, culture, and population diversity. I picked Sudan to learn more about my friends, and to put meaning to what they went through as United State refugees. We will look at Sudan’s History, culture, and population to better understate the country to date.
At some point in our lives, we have wondered about the possibility of a computer being able to think. John Searle addresses this issue in his paper, “Can Computers Think?”, where he argues that computers cannot think because they are directed by formal information. This means that the information presented is only syntax with no semantics behind it. In this paper, I will elaborate more on Searle’s position and reasoning whilst critiquing his argument by saying that it is possible to derive semantics from syntax. Finally, I will analyze the significance of my criticism and present a possible response from Searle to defend his argument.
Bioterrorism started in 1346 when the Tarter force, in Ukraine, experienced an epidemic of the plague (Bioterrorism n.p.). The Tarter force threw the diseased bodies into the city they were attacking to spread deadly diseases. Another case of Bioterrorism was when the British troops gave blankets to the Native American Indians that were infected with the small pox disease. Many cases of early uses have been reported but others have been debunked. Terrorists groups have become smart and have used anthrax in letters so victims will become infected upon opening. The U.S. has since taken safety precautions to prevent attacks from happening in the future (History of Bioterrorism n.p.). Health care facilities are very concerned about the outbreak of a biological agent attack.
Wittgenstein, Ludwig; G. E. M. Anscombe, P.M.S. Hacker and Joachim Schulte (eds. and trans.). Philosophical Investigations. 4th edition, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. Print.
The purpose of this paper is to show that Goldman's causal theory of knowledge does not solve the Gettier problem. First, I will reiterate the Gettier problem. Second, I will show how Goldman's theory attempts to solve the Gettier problem. Next, I will show how over determination points out a major flaw for Goldman's theory. Finally, I will demonstrate that Goldman's theory does not work if the world we live in is not one of absolute truth and void of deception.
To commence, functionalists are preoccupied with making mental states distinct, partly on the basis of causal relations to other mental states. Functionalism involves the conviction that psychological or mental terms can be done away to a certain extent. Functionalists treat terms related to mental states as functional characterizations which differ from input and output terms. Therefore, when the theory is broken down, mental states are associated with the states of the Turing-machine, which on its own is defined as a machine table that mentions inputs and outputs that are not explored in the mind (Block, pg. 212). Additionally, functionalism empathizes that characterization of mental states ought to include descriptions of inputs and outputs in both it...
In this paper, I have attempted to concisely yet methodically explain the Turing Test and its respective objection and rebuttals. Both Turing and Searle’s comparisons between humans and computers in a methodological manner alike illustrate their opposing views on the topic. However, following Searle’s reasoning against Turing’s experiment, it is clear that he lacks adequacy for his reasoning. This is most commonly found in Searle’s tendency to base his theories off assumptions. In doing so, Turing’s ideal responses effortlessly undermine any substance Searle might have had, thus proving his to be the stronger theory.
The Sudan genocide, a civil war that was started in the early 1980s when drought, famine and the spread of un-arable land caused traditional African herders and Darfur citizens to argue over land. For the next 22 years relationships worsened between the Arab and non-Arab tribes. The Western region of Sudan: Darfur was thrown into civil war by its own government and two rbel armies in an uprising that should have been seen coming for a long time. This essay will elaberate on the events that occurred in Sudan over the past twenty two years and to what extent the mass killings that occurred can be defined as Genocide. The insurgeny began in Febuary 2003; goning virtually uunnoticed by the international community and shadowed by the ongoing war in Irac. The Sudan governent has been blamed for virtually every event during the past 22 years of civil unrest that has led up to the mass killing of hundreds and thousands of civilians. The many different ethinic groups in Sudan were constantly arguing and fighting over any and all issues and problems that could be brought upon to their attention; this led to growing tension. The mass killings in Sudan could be classified as ethnic cleansing; a term used to describe the killing of an ethnic group of people because their role in that society is unjustified or they are invading on terriotory that they are not welcome on.
Deeb, S. E. (2011). North Sudan faces its likely truncated future. Associate Press , 1.
Wittgenstein and Derrida are two spurs, éperons of philosophical thinking, who changed the milieu of philosophical discourses. They practice new arts of thinking and writing, which lead to a change of paradigm and of style in philosophy. In the case of late Wittgenstein the change manifests in a critical attitude toward modern logical discourses. The annonced silence (Stille) of the Tractatus transfigures itself through textual dispersions into the styles (Stile) of the late Wittgenstein. By Derrida we can discover this paradigm change in his critique of philosophical "logo-phono-ethnocentrism" and even more in his way of writing, wich through its disseminating force overpasses the bar between philosophy and literature.
"We know that dictators are quick to choose aggression, while free nations strive to resolve differences in peace. We know that oppressive goverments support terror, while free governments fight the terrorists in their midst. We know that free peoples embrace progress and life, instead of becoming the recruits for murderous ideologies." George W. Bush, (Speech to UN General Assembly, September 21, 2004) Al Shabaab, an armed group is waging a brutal war aimed at toppling Somalia's government and imposing Islamic law. Since its inception in 2006 the terrorist group has been indicative of a violent powerful movement. Somalia's operation is mainly centered in the southern and central regions. The group is fighting an insurgency against the Somali Federal Government, African Union Mission and their allies. Therefore, this paper is designed to take a look into the terrorist organization al Shabaab.
Chomsky, N. (2000). Knowledge of language: Its mature, origin and use. In R. J. Stainton (Ed.), Perspectives in the philosophy of language: A concise anthology (pp. 3-44). Peterborough: Broadview Press.