ABSTRACT

The use of particular cases is another important technique in Wittgenstein’s method of grammatical investigation. Throughout his later writings he draws our attention to particular philosophical problems and introduces a variety of grammatical techniques for particular philosophical purposes. The use of particular cases is a methodological response to a philosophical craving for generality. It is connected with the use of ordinary language and inherent in the placing of philosophy in our everyday world. Wittgenstein also uses intermediate or connecting cases to weaken the position of certain fixed standards of expression which prevent us from seeing the use of our words with unbiased eyes (BB 43). And he invents particular cases and uses fictitious intermediate cases to clarify the grammar of our words. He writes:

What kind of investigations are we carrying out? Am I investigating the probability of the cases that I give as examples, or am I investigating their actuality? No, I am just citing what is possible and am therefore giving grammatical examples.