Short course
Introduction to Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
21/01/2027 - 25/03/202710:30 - 12:30
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
How do these squiggles on a page, or sounds in the air, come to mean something? It can be tempting to think that meaning is a kind of private inner, mental accompaniment to the outward use of language. It's also tempting, when we start to think about our own mental activities, to think of them as taking place in a peculiar realm – sort of private inner world, a secret garden to which we alone have access. These seductive ways of thinking about mind and meaning give rise to classic philosophical puzzles, including (i) the problem of other minds (How can I know other humans possess these private inner worlds?), (ii) sceptism about the external world (given all I can directly access is my private inner world and its contents, how can I know there's anything outside?) and (iii) the mind/body problem (how are this private inner world and my physical body related?) In this course we explore Wittgenstein's thinking on mind and meaning and his radical response to these classic philosophical puzzles.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Contact the team
Phone: +44 (0)1865 280900
Course starts Thursday 21 January 2027
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Thursdays, 10.30am-12.30pm.
Week 1: Introducing Wittgenstein’s Approach: Philosophical Problems as Pseudo-Problems
Week 2: Family Resemblance vs. Socrates’ Method of Counter-Examples
Week 3: Meaning as an Inner Accompaniment to The Public Use of Language
Week 4: The Mind as a Peculiarly Private Realm
Week 5: The Private Language Argument
Week 6: To What Does ‘Pain’ Refer? The Beetle in The Box
Week 7: The Rule-Following Paradox
Week 8: Scepticism About The External World
Week 9: Religious Language – comparing ‘God exists’ and ‘Electrons exist’
Week 10: The Strengths and Weaknesses of Wittgenstein’s approach
Course aims
This course aims to enable participants to develop an understanding of Wittgenstein’s later philosophy and to explore its contribution to debates concerning language, meaning and mind.
Course objectives
By the end of the course, participants will have been given the opportunity to:
- develop an understanding of key themes and concepts in Wittgenstein’s later philosophy
- explore Wittgenstein’s responses to classic philosophical problems
- develop skills in the critical analysis and discussion of philosophical ideas through reading, reflection and group discussion
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to: discuss some of the major concerns of Wittgenstein; develop their critical and analytical skills through the reading and the sessions; and enable a keener sense of inter-communication through group discussion.
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Teaching methods
The courses comprises 10 sessions involving lectures with powerpoint, class interaction and seminar work. There are also some readings of parts of Wittgenstein’s Investigations.
Assessment methods
Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation, in advance of the course start date, can submit coursework/assignments for assessment.
Assessment
You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Dr Stephen Law
Stephen Law is a Departmental Lecturer in Philosophy and Director of the Certificate of Higher Education at OUDCE. His research focuses on the philosophy of mind, language, metaphysics and on philosophy of religion. He also writes many accessible online articles and edits the Royal Institute of Philosophy journal THINK: Philosophy for Everyone.
Academic credit
Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS Points)
Please note, students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you wish to gain credit from completing this course you must register to do so before the course starts.
Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail.
Learn more about the Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee for assessment and accreditation.
Digital certificate of completion
Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee (with no assessment) | £315.00 |
| Assessment and Accreditation fee | £60.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Preparatory reading
- A Short Introduction to Wittgenstein’s private Language Argument / Stephen Law
- Is the Private Self an Illusion? / Stephen Law
- The Meaning Mystery / Stephen Law
Module code: O26P443PHW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.
How to register for accreditation and assessment
To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for this course, if you wish to do so, you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.
If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education at the Department you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.