Wittgenstein and Davidson on Language, Thought, and Action

The first book-length comparative study of Wittgenstein's and Davidson's philosophies, exploring their similarities and demonstrating their continuing relevance to modern debates.

Claudine Verheggen (Edited by)

9781107474703, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 December 2019

263 pages
23 x 15 x 1.5 cm, 0.4 kg

Wittgenstein and Davidson are two of the most influential and controversial figures of twentieth-century philosophy. However, whereas Wittgenstein is often regarded as a deflationary philosopher, Davidson is considered to be a theory builder and systematic philosopher par excellence. Consequently, little work has been devoted to comparing their philosophies with each other. In this volume of new essays, leading scholars show that in fact there is much that the two share. By focusing on the similarities between Wittgenstein and Davidson, the essays present compelling defences of their views and develop more coherent and convincing approaches than either philosopher was able to propose on his own. They show how philosophically fruitful and constructive reflection on Wittgenstein and Davidson continues to be, and how relevant the writings of both philosophers are to current debates in philosophy of mind, language, and action.

Introduction Claudine Verheggen
1. Holism in action Robert H. Myers
2. Davidson's Wittgenstenian view of meaning Paul Horwich
3. Davidson and Wittgenstein – a Homeric struggle? Åsa Wikforss
4. Rule-following and charity: Wittgenstein and Davidson on meaning determination Kathrin Glüer
5. Davidson's treatment of Wittgenstein's rule-following paradox Claudine Verheggen
6. Davidson and Wittgenstein on meaning and understanding Barry Stroud
7. The search for 'the essence of human language' in Wittgenstein and Davidson Jason Bridges
8. Wittgenstein and Davidson on animal minds Hans-Johann Glock
9. Wittgenstein and Davidson on first-person authority and the univocality of mental terms William Child
10. The harmony of thought and reality: Wittgenstein and Davidson versus McDowell Tim Thornton
11. Davidson, Russell and Wittgenstein on the problem of predication José L. Zalabardo.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of mind [HPM], Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology [HPJ], Philosophy of language [CFA]