On Principle Of Verification Of Propositional Meaning In Wittgenstein’s Middle Period

When we talk about the Principle of Verification of propositional meaning, the Vienna Circle or Logical Positivism may be firstly appeared in our mind.The Principle of Verification of propositional meaning is well known through the Vienna Circle’s great publicity, but the origin of this idea is from the thought of Wittgenstein’s middle period. From typescript, Philosophical Remarks, Wittgenstein and the Vienna Circle, Cambridge university lecture notes, Waismann’s notes and other important works, we can see that Wittgenstein had a short period of time in1929when he returned to the philosophy, advocated the Principle of Verification of propositional meaning. Wittgenstein’s Principle of Verification of propositional meaning not only affected the Vienna Circle but also had a positive impact on the development of his later philosophy, Therefore, the study of Wittgenstein’s Principle of Verification of propositional meaning will be of great significance. Generally speaking, this article will focus on the Principle of Verification of propositional meaning in Wittgenstein’s middle period and this theme is divided into six related issues to discuss:(1) Whether Wittgenstein held the Principle of Verification when he returned to the philosophy in1929?(2) If we can be sure that Wittgenstein held Principle of Verification of propositional meaning when he returned to the philosophy. What’s the source of his idea.(3) What was the difference between The Vienna Circle’s and Wittgenstein’s Principle of Verification of propositional meaning? How did the former inherit and misinterpret Wittgenstein’s thought?(4)What’s the relationship between Tractatus and Principle of Verification of propositional meaning? How did Tractatus affect Principle of Verification of propositional meaning?(5) Were there any new changes when Wittgenstein returned to the philosophy in1929, how did these changes lead Wittgenstein’s to put forward Principle of Verification of propositional meaning in Philosophical Remark、Wittgenstein and the Vienna Circle and other works. What’s more, why Wittgenstein abandoned a strong edition of Principle of Verification and accepted a weak edition of Principle of Verification? (6)How did a weak edition of Principle of Verification of propositional meaning merge into the investigation of grammar with the development of Wittgenstein’s middle and later philosophy. How did Wittgenstein abandon the Principle of Verification of propositional meaning and came to accept that propositional meaning is its use.We hope that the discussion and exploration of these core issues will link up these philosophical questions and help us investigate Wittgenstein’s short and important but easily overlooked period which held Principle of Verification of propositional meaning. Furthermore, this investigation will help us understand the development of philosophy of Wittgenstein’s middle period.