Silver Bronzo on ' Wittgenstein, Philosophy, and Demystification ' at HSE Philosophy Colloquium
On March 3, 2017, Silver Bronzo, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at HSE, will talk at the HSE Philosophy Colloquium on 'Wittgenstein, Philosophy, and Demystification'.
Abstract
Many forms of contemporary naturalism seek to “demystify” the mind by reducing it to phenomena that fit within the conceptual and explanatory apparatus of natural science. Paul Horwich has argued that Wittgenstein made important contributions to this reductionist project. For Horwich, Wittgenstein’s “use-theory of meaning” purports to reduce meaning to non-intentional and non-normative notions. This talk challenges Horwich’s reading. It argues that Wittgenstein does indeed aim to demystify meaning, but does not try to reduce it to anything else. For Wittgenstein, the demystification of meaning involves (a) the critique of philosophical mythologies of meaning based on a misunderstanding of the way we talk about meaning and understanding, and (b) the unmasking of widespread forms of naturalism as a source of mystification.
Silver Bronzo received his PhD at the University of Chicago in 2015 and has been Assistant Professor of Philosophy at HSE Moscow since 2016. His work is concerned with the philosophy of language, Wittgenstein, and the history of analytic philosophy.
Time: 4.40 pm - 6.10 pm
Address: 21/4 Staraya Basmannaya ulitsa, room 417