Discovering Ethics in Wittgensteinʼs Picture Theory

Michael Kremer, in writing about the purpose of Tractarian nonsense, takes Wittgenstein’sconcluding words of his Tractatus logico-philosophicus (TLP) quite literally. Its statements “... do not begin by making sense, only to be gradually reduced to nonsense. They are nonsense all along”. Readers only realise the deception too late. No theories presented are even provisionally justifiable. “This may seem too revisionary. Where is the famous ʽpicture theoryʼ? Where is the isomorphism between propositions and states-of affairs? The answer is that the Tractatus has shown all that talk to be nonsense.”

Kremerʼs throwaway attitude will be rejected here. Wittgensteinʼs theatrical finale distracts from the intellectual labour he invested in his book. One has to climb the ladder before doing away with it. The purpose of the objections presented is, however, not to defend substantial theses of the TLP; their aim is more modest and provocative at the same time. Details of the picture theory are not examined in order to defend Wittgenstein’s theses as correct. The theory is shown to be questionable in several respects. Yet, the effort is by no means pointless. And neither does it necessarily lead to silence. A plausible ethical perspective can be gained from close reading.