Wittgenstein's Philosophy as a Way of Life - Round Table

Ulrich Arnswald (University of Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck), Maria Venieri (University of Crete), Vasso Kindi (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Ilse Somavilla (University of Innsbruck), Stelios Virvidakis (University of Athens)

RT361 - RT - Wittgenstein's Philosophy as a Way of Life - Round Table. 25th World Congress of Philosophy (WCP). Coordinator: Maria Venieri (Greece). Participants: Ulrich Arnswald, Vasso Kindi, Ilse Somavilla, Stelios Virvidakis and Maria Venieri.

Philosophy as a way of life, in the sense introduced by Pierre Hadot, does not just build theoretical systems, but transforms people’s lives. This can be achieved through spiritual exercises, which consist among others in reading the appropriate philosophical texts. Wittgenstein’s purpose in the Tractatus is to draw the limits of language, so that we recognize his propositions as nonsensical and see the world aright. In the later work he stresses the therapeutic role of philosophy, which aims at dissolving philosophical problems. Some of the questions we shall discuss are: Can we, following Hadot himself, view the reading of the Tractatus as a spiritual exercise, which leads to a kind of mystical experience and thus changes our life? Does Wittgenstein’s early work show the way to an ethical life and help us cope with the fear of death? Can the later work be regarded as a way of transforming our life and of achieving peace of mind akin to “ataraxia”? Can it also leave room for faith?