ABSTRACT
In his later work, Wittgenstein rejected the idea of definition as analysis and instead upheld the diametrically opposed view that meaning is what an explanation of meaning explains. The difference between the Blue Book and post Blue Book usages is that the former includes the usage of the word ‘defining’ to stress the stipulative aspect of an explanation of meaning and the latter does not. A fundamental factor which underlies scholarly disputes about criteria is that there is no general accord about the nature of and pertinence of Wittgenstein’s philosophies of language and mind. The vast majority of the commentaries about criteria employ some ideas about his philosophies of language and mind. The development of the theory of criteria is continued by taking up matters broadly related to the idea of circumstances. Multiple criteria are of interest to a number of commentators.
