皇冠体育

The Department of Philosophy Colloquium Series is pleased to present

David Bakhurst
(皇冠体育)

"Anscombe versus Austin"

Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024

Time: 4:00 pm

Watson Hall, Room 517

My topic is the relation between Elizabeth Anscombe鈥檚 form of linguistic philosophy and the ordinary language philosophy of J. L. Austin. In Metaphysical Animals, Clare Mac Cumhaill and Rachael Wiseman observe that Anscombe and Austin hated each other and portray Anscombe鈥檚 loathing as expressing a deep aversion to Austin鈥檚 conception of philosophy. In response, some commentators have criticised this interpretation, arguing that Anscombe鈥檚 contempt for Austin was grounded in merely personal reasons, which prevented her from appreciating that Austin was involved in a similar reformatory project to Wittgenstein and Anscombe herself. In my paper, I evaluate this dispute, exploring the similarities and differences between Anscombe鈥檚 and Austin鈥檚 ideas of philosophy鈥攆ocusing on their notorious symposium on pretending and their respective writings on perception and its objects. I will argue that attention to the metaphysical dimensions of Anscombe鈥檚 鈥済rammatical鈥� inquiries can reveal the ways in which Austin鈥檚 philosophy is, by comparison, superficial.

EVERYONE WELCOME 

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