Review: Wittgenstein: Rethinking the Inner by Paul Johnston

Ludwig Wittgenstein should have left an indelible mark on our understanding of the mind, but sadly his approach is often misunderstood. Too many accounts of his views on the subject expressly attempt to locate them on a grid of contemporary positions within the philosophy of mind, for purposes of comparison. Although the intention is noble, forcing Wittgenstein’s thinking into the framework of the standard assumptions of today’s philosophy of mind is bound to distort it. For example, a common error is to understand him as sponsoring some form of sophisticated ‘logical’ behaviourism. Against this background it is refreshing to find a readable monograph that attempts to reveal the character of Wittgenstein’s thought, not only by giving due care and attention to his agenda, but by explicitly helping the reader to understand its unique character