On the Alleged Incompatibility Between Wittgenstein and Kripke

Abstract

<p>This chapter aims to show that the alleged incompatibility of the views of Wittgenstein and Kripke is sometimes more specious than real. It is suggested that there are, underneath the surface, interesting points of contact between these two philosophers. Kripke’s views on names and reference are arguably not vulnerable to Wittgenstein’s critique of “the Augustinian Picture of Language” and of ostensive definitions. The attitudes of these two philosophers towards theories in philosophy are not as dissimilar as many have quickly judged either. Certain “Wittgensteinian” critiques of Kripke and popular interpretations of Kripke which exaggerate his commitment to extreme natural kind essentialism are critically assessed. The nature of Kripke’s disputed idea on necessary a posteriori is clarified. It is suggested that perhaps Wittgenstein was not as unequivocally a semantic internalist as some of his ardent followers have insisted.</p>