Thomas Uebel

Wittgenstein and the Variety of Vienna Circles

The Vienna Circle was, as the research of recent decades made abundantly clear, far from a homogeneous group of philosophers (nor was their pluralism always harmonious).  This can be shown with regard to the way different philosophical and cultural influences affected the views of different members generally, but also with regard to the way in which the doctrines of specific philosophers closely associated with the origin of logical empiricism were received.  Wittgenstein is a case in point.  In this talk I will set out, with the help of a few indicative examples, how the critical reception of the Tractatus by Hans Hahn, Philipp Frank and Otto Neurath—former members of an informal pre-World War 1 discussion group, the so-called first Vienna Circle—and by Rudolf Carnap reflected their pre-existent theoretical interests.  Wittgenstein’s Tractatus contributed to their developing philosophy but was far from its foundation, contrary to what has often been presumed about the relation of Wittgenstein and the Vienna Circle.

Thomas Uebel is professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Manchester, U.K.  He has published extensively on the history of analytical philosophy and its philosophy of science.  Recent papers include “Neurath on Verstehen” (European Journal of Philosophy), “Schlick and Wittgenstein: The Theory of Affirmations Revisited” (Journal of the History of Philosophy) and “Intersubjective Accountability: Politics and Philosophy in the Left Vienna Circle” (Perspectives on Science).