The Analysis Of The Argument Against Private Language Of Wittgenstein

The argument against private language is an important part in Wittgenstein's later philosophy. Because of his unique way of thinking and style of writing, the private language argument has inspired furious disputation among many bright philosophers. So far, there is no assent conclusion. On the base of referring to and digesting the studying fruits of ancestors, the dissertation endeavors to interpret and illustrate Wittgenstein's argument against private language.The argument of private language is not borne from nothing by Wittgenstein through his thinking, and has its deep philosophical background and theoretical origin. From the early modern times, many bright philosophers have a silent attitude towards the private language in their hearts, and there is an inclination to the private language existing privately in these philosophers' theories. If Descartes has found an undoubted private mental object for men's looking for the epistemic truth, he also has provided a base of ontology for the theory of private language; in addition, Locke's Theory of Meaning Reference is the important direct origin of theory. Furthermore , both the theory of Acquaintance of Russell and Wittgenstein's thinking on the problems of solipsism have an undivided relations with the illustration of private language in Wittgenstein's later philosophy .So Wittgenstein's critique against the private language argument is equal to the critique against modern traditional mental object and the theory of Meaning Reference , at the same time, has given a solution to the philosophical problems raised by the former two theories such as the theory of Acquaintance and Solipsism.Under the background of his later cure philosophy, Wittgenstein has criticized the two elements which lead to the born of private language. First, he has criticized the privacy of personal experience. Wittgenstein argues the privacy of the sensation or personal experience referred to by the words of private language is a imaginary picture of disguise. Why? Because we have wrongly understood the uses of ordinary language and used the words unsuitably. Through the analysis of ordinary grammars towards the first person T and the verb 'to know', Wittgenstein has successfully dissolved the problem of 'the privacy of personal experience'. Secondly, he has criticized the ostensive definition. Wittgenstein argues although personal experience is private, private linguists could not establish relationship between words and objects .Because, first , ostensive definition which is working must be under the ground of language ; second , private linguists could not follow rules privately . Wittgenstein shows following rules is a form of practicing, habit or the pattern of act, and is not that following rules must transcend individual and acquired the agreement of the community by Kripke.Wittgenstein's argument against private language is not only the critique to traditional mental problems and the theory of meaning, but also has deepened his later philosophical theory. A word or sentence only can make sense in the context which is composed of language and practicing of life .In other words, we can not separate from the circumstances to using language. In addition, the argument against private language has provided new solutions and eyesight to traditional problems such as Other Mind and Behaviorism.