Wittgenstein and the social sciences, Vinten, Robert

In Wittgenstein and the Social Sciences, Robert Vinten takes a fresh look at the relationship between Wittgensteins philosophy and the social sciences. The book locates Wittgensteins philosophy in relation to the social sciences. This involves getting clear about what Wittgenstein was doing in his philosophical work as well as about the nature of the social sciences. Vinten argues that the social sciences can be considered scientific despite the fact that social sciences have different methods and subject matter to the natural sciences. He then examines problems associated with relativism within the social sciences and considers whether Wittgenstein might be a relativist of some sort.

The book goes on to consider whether Wittgensteins philosophy lends support to any particular political ideology and asks an important question: whether Wittgenstein himself was a conservative, liberal, or socialist. This question is explored involving a critical engagement with Wittgenstein scholars, cultural theorists, and political philosophers such as J. C. Nyiri, Richard Rorty, Alex Callinicos, Perry Anderson, and Terry Eagleton.

Finally, the book considers how Wittgensteins philosophical remarks can help us in getting to grips with problems in the social sciences and political philosophy. A criticism of Patricia Churchland and Christopher Suhlers neurobiological account of control suggests that Wittgensteins work can be useful in getting rid of problems concerning freedom of the will. A critical engagement with thinkers like John Rawls and Chantal Mouffe is used to examine the relevance of Wittgensteins philosophy to discussions of justice. Wittgensteins work is clearly relevant to issues of injustice that are with us today.