Wittgenstein's On Certainty: Insight and Method

Ludwig Wittgenstein's On Certainty offers a solution to radical skepticism and provides an approach to psychotherapy known as CBT to help philosophers adjust and reshape irrational thoughts and beliefs into something healthy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 104 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Ludwig Wittgenstein, a pivotal figure in twentieth-century Austrian philosophy, is the subject of profound exploration in this book. Through his seminal work, "On Certainty," Wittgenstein not only offers a remarkable solution to a long-standing and seemingly insoluble philosophical problem but also unveils the foundations of a groundbreaking approach to tackling similar enduring dilemmas. In "On Certainty," Wittgenstein reimagines the challenge of radical skepticism, which posits that we can never attain genuine certainty beyond the confines of our own minds. Instead, he frames this skepticism as a philosophical "disease" of thought, necessitating a therapeutic approach.

Wittgenstein's approach to this problem, which is central to the book, resembles the treatment of a medical condition. It has two primary objectives: firstly, to raise awareness among philosophers that extreme skepticism should not be taken seriously as a methodological approach; and secondly, to replace this radical skepticism with a practical and commonsense framework. Implicit in Wittgenstein's approach are strategies drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a contemporary psychotherapy approach. These strategies, combined with philosophical methods and scientific practices rooted in the Scottish School of Common Sense, aim to diagnose and treat irrational thoughts and beliefs that frequently arise within the realm of philosophy.

The primary aim of this book is to equip students of philosophy with the necessary tools to transform and reshape these irrational, self-defeating thoughts and beliefs into something new, something healthy. By delving into the complexities of Wittgenstein's thought and applying therapeutic principles, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the nature of certainty and the potential for personal growth and transformation. "On Certainty" serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to navigate the treacherous waters of philosophical inquiry and cultivate a more robust and resilient mindset.

Weight: 197g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030907839
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022