Wittgensteinian

British  

/ ˈvɪtɡənˌʃtaɪnɪən, -ˌstaɪnɪən /

adjective

1. (of a philosophical position or argument) derived from or related to the work of Wittgenstein and esp the later work in which he attacks essentialism and stresses the open texture and variety of use of ordinary language

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Wittgensteinian

Other cybernetic dogs bring to mind a wholly different Wittgensteinian observation, one that points to the deep reserves of anger often concealed by inchoate attempts at communication.

From Slate ● Jun. 7, 2017

In context, however, that Wittgensteinian aphorism is surrounded by thornier reflections on the difficulty of understanding our fellow humans.

From Slate ● Apr. 14, 2016

The reaction was swift and vociferous, and exactly nobody found my work delightfully Wittgensteinian, although one guy did email the chair of my school’s English department demanding that I be fired.

From Slate ● Feb. 18, 2016

It's almost as if the stalker-sadist Vaughan looks at humans as walking talking examples of that Wittgensteinian proposal: "Don't ask for the meaning; ask for the use."

From The Guardian ● Jul. 4, 2014

Both the Kuhnian and Popperian positions are, in principle, compatible with an understanding of what science does; the Wittgensteinian position, as presented by his followers, is inherently anti-scientific.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton