New Critical Thinking: What Wittgenstein Offered

Product Description Ludwig Wittgenstein changed everything. To understand how, we need to understand what he did to the subject of critical reasoning. Wittgenstein didn’t leave us “philosophy”; he left a pathway for a more perspicuous intellect. This was caused by a psychological condition that made him meticulous and hypersensitive. He could abnormally perceive three natural phenomena: (a) the social traits implicated in word use; (b) the task-functions signified in communication; and (c) the pictures that flash before the mind’s eye. With this unique acuity, he showed us how post-analytic thinking was to occur. And this discovery changes everything. It revolutionizes how we must argue with one another and what we believe is “true.” Instead of focusing primarily upon premises or facts, we must point people to how their intellect behaves during a speech act—something called “therapy.” And this has radical implications for analysis, conceptual investigation, value judgments, political ideology, ethics and even religion. This book is both an explanation of, and a blueprint for, the new critical thinking. Written for both a lay and special audience, and for all fields of study, it shows what Wittgenstein invented and how it affects us all. Review For years Wittgensteinian philosophers have wanted to see a movement away from exegesis toward the application of Wittgenstein’s way of dealing with problems to new areas. Wilson’s book promises to make a contribution to this effort. The book is blazing a trail of its own, which is its great strength. To the extent that Wilson has not only been a pioneer but also got Wittgenstein right, this is an excellent achievement. -- Duncan Richter, Virginia Military InstituteSean Wilson’s new book offers some of the clearest insights into Wittgenstein’s later thoughts that I have come across. By clearly explaining three facets of Wittgenstein’s problem-solving “therapy,” Wilson is able to neatly put important—but often confusing—ideas into a coherent and helpful form. I highly recommend this book to any reader, not just the career philosopher. It may just change the way you view the world. -- Ian Bartrum, William S. Boyd School of Law, UNLVIn his book Sean Wilson has devoted himself to an important task rarely undertaken by Wittgenstein scholars: rather than limiting himself to interpreting Wittgenstein’s thought or bringing it to bear on philosophical problems, he has explored ways in which Wittgenstein’s insights can be employed in the clarification of many kinds of intellectual entanglements, within various academic disciplines, in legal argument, political and cultural debate and everyday interchange. -- Lars Hertzberg, Åbo Akademi University About the Author Sean Wilson is associate professor at Wright State University and is the author of The Flexible Constitution.