“Ludwig Wittgenstein” – A BBC Radio Talk by Elizabeth Anscombe in May 1953

Abstract

Presented here is the transcript of a BBC radio broadcast by Elizabeth Anscombe that was recorded in May 1953 – the month when Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations appeared in England for the first time. In her radio talk, Anscombe provides some biographical and philosophical background for reading the Philosophical Investigations. She addresses the importance of the Tractatus and of the literary qualities of Wittgenstein’s writing. Anscombe warns that it would be fruitless to adopt slogans from Wittgenstein without insight. She also calls it a misunderstanding to think that Wittgenstein had championed something like the Ordinary Language Philosophy as it was practised at the time of the recording.

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“…Discussing Wittgenstein's writings, Anscombe – his student, friend, and PI ’s entrusted translator – makes clear that he does not offer a philosophical method per se , but perhaps ‘a number of tricks … E.g., that of asking “As opposed to what?” or “and what would it be like if it were not so?” when a proposition is advanced’ (cited in Erbacher et al, 2019, p. 234). While question marks did not punctuate Keskitalo’s, 2020 speech, pasts, presents, and futures were interwoven in what ‘might’ be: a memory, seasonal and cyclical transitions, and hope.…”

“…Wittgenstein makes clear in PI that there is no such thing as ‘ private Sprache [private language]’: language and meaning are always inherently social. His own documented practices of writing, re‐writing, cutting, deleting, and changing his notes were no exception (Anscombe cited in Erbacher et al, 2019). In Keskitalo's writing and performing the speech too, we can presume the likely audience was anticipated, always already in relation: in this case, a mixed group of scientists, policymakers, business people, youth, and environmentalists – from a variety of linguistic as well as discursive backgrounds.…”

“… 2 2 However, the earlier work formed the foundation for the later, even if primarily to refute it: ‘The Tractatus haunts the Investigations’ (Anscombe, cited in Erbacher et al, 2019, p. 233). …”