David Palme

Contradiction as Form of Life

This dissertation brings Wittgensteinian philosophy of language and critical theory into constellation to critique modern moral philosophy. The prevailing philosophical discussion on morals shares certain assumptions, such as ethical pluralism, moral progress, and the distinction between modern and traditional morality. The dissertation aims to apply the implications of Wittgenstein’s so-called private language argument to the logical structure of modern moral justification. In doing so, a significant correspondence between the critical theory of society and Wittgenstein’s philosophy of language becomes obvious. A notable role is played by §125 of the Philosophical Investigations, in which Wittgenstein identifies contradiction as the philosophical problem of bourgeois society. The results can be summarized as follows: Justification is supposed to distinguish modern from traditional morality and philosophy. Justification is understood reflexively and is based on non-contradiction. In the process of negative universalization, moral rules are generalized. Thereby they receive normative validity. This process cannot be concluded but is regarded as dynamic and historical. Its continuation is considered moral progress. This process’s dynamization grounds the contradiction between what is said and what is meant. A contradiction is a phenomenon in language and, as such dependent on language. That is, whether a contradiction exists is not identical at all times and in all circumstances. Language is essentially social; that is, it is part of social practice. The whole of this social practice can be called a form of life and is historically changeable and not harmonious in itself. Therefore, the justificatory project of modern moral philosophy does not get beyond the form of life. The focus on freedom from contradiction is instead a mirror of our contradictory society. The task of philosophy is the linguistic-critical examination of theories which conceal contradictions. In the investigation, the concepts of “modern moral philosophy”, “progress”, and “form of life” will be discussed in more detail. In this context, the dissertation discusses the relation of Wittgensteinian considerations with those of critical theory in Marx and Adorno/Horkheimer and subsumes them as “critique of language”.

 

Academic CV

• 10/2018-present: PhD student at the Max-Weber-Kolleg, Erfurt and member of the IGS.
• 2015-2018: M.A. in Philosophy, Frankfurt/Main.
• 01/2015-present: freelance collaborator at Fritz-Bauer-Institut, Frankfurt/Main.
• 2009-2015: B.A. in Philosophy, Marburg.