Wittgenstein, Rules And Institutions

David Bloors challenging evaluation of Wittgensteins account of rules andrulefollowing brings together a rare combination of philosophical andsociological viewp... » 

David Bloors challenging evaluation of Wittgensteins account of rules andrulefollowing brings together a rare combination of philosophical andsociological viewpoints. Wittgenstein enigmatically claimed that the way wefollow rules is an institution without ever clearly explaining what he meantby this term. Wittgensteins contribution to the debate on rulefollowing hasbeen subject to sharply opposed interpretations collectivist andindividualist readings by philosophers. David Bloor provides one of the mostinformative explorations of this debate and argues for a collectivist accountof rules and a collectivist reading of Wittgenstein later work. Clearly writtenand engaging this book offers the first consistent sociological reading ofWittgensteins work for many years. It is vital reading for students ofphilosophy and sociology and anyone interested in the later thought ofWittgenstein. «