Varja Štrajn
My interests in philosophy go back to the days before my studies at the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana, where I earned a BA in Philosophy and English. Combining both interests in a thesis on the philosophy of language, I decided to continue my research further, for which I was awarded a PhD from the University of Ljubljana in 2017. My primary interests of research lie in the philosophies of Ludwig Wittgenstein (early and late), Gottlob Frege and J.L. Austin.
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which is not entirely accidental, as he held the view that the nature
of aesthetics is not appropriate for abstract philosophical discussion,
art, especially music, had a paramount place in his life (Schroeder
2017). Wittgenstein’s critique of aesthetics, which is unusual for classical
philosophical discourse, ends with a finding that aesthetic questions
belong to art criticism (Schroeder 2017) rather than philosophical
theory; otherwise, they quickly end with aestheticism. It is precisely the
critique of classical philosophical theories in the field of aesthetics that
reveals the true essence of art, thereby contributing to the understanding
of culture in modern society.
Ob koncu Logično filozofskega traktata Wittgenstein sprevidi, da očiščenje naravnega jezika vseh jezikovnih aporij sicer res odpravi pomanjkljivosti slovnične strukturiranosti stavka, ki nas s svojo površinskostjo odvrača od njegovega pravega smisla, vendar le-ta ne zmore izraziti vsebine misli in kot čista struktura (forma) stavka ostaja prazen. Ker logično-analitična obravnava stavkov v Traktatu zajema le opisno stavčno funkcijo, ne pa tudi drugih funkcij, se na ta način ustvarja napačen videz o pravilnosti lastnih izhodišč. Filozofija poznega Wittgensteina zato izhaja iz spoznanja, da je za enakovredno obravnavo različnih stavčnih funkcij potrebna drugačna metodologija, kot so jo predvideli analitični filozofi na prelomu dvajsetega stoletja. Metoda govornih dejanj3 [speech acts], kot preproste jezikovne igre [Sprachspiel], omogoča enotnejšo obravnavo pomena stavkov naravnega jezika. Članek je predstavitev metode govornih dejanj v pozni filozofiji Ludwiga Wittgensteina, kot iskanja nujnih pogojev smiselnega izjavljanja.
The paper introduces the main theses for therapeutic interpretation, which looks for arguments in favour of continuity in therapy, as the common method of both early and late Wittgenstein. The paper presents and explains the reasons for the therapeutic interpretation of Tractatus, which understands the method of Tractatus as therapy rather than logical analysis of sentences. The therapeutic method acts therapeutically on the reader of Tractatus, as it brings him to a realization that philosophical problems are to be found in the metaphysical way of thinking.
V zgodovini teorije jezika so teoretiki jezika razvili dva osnovna pristopa analize jezika in stavčnega pomena, ki izhajata iz srednjeveškega spora o univerzalijah in se v novem veku nadaljujeta v razpravah med empiristi in racionalisti. Gre za razprave med zagovorniki psihologizma in njihovimi nasprotniki, racionalisti, ki psihologizma niso zavračali kot povsem napačne doktrine, trdili so le, da psihologistična razlaga jezika ne zadošča za pojasnitev resničnega pomena stavkov večnih resnic. Fregejevo vprašanje o resnici matematičnih in logičnih stavkov ni v tem kontekstu torej nič drugega kot poskus razrešitve spora o objektivnosti umevanja realnosti, ki na prelomu 20. stoletja ne nastopa več kot epistemološko vprašanje, ampak kot vprašanje stavčne logike, ki predstavlja osnovo sodobne filozofije jezika. Racionalistično stališče do teorije jezika sprejema tudi Chomsky, ki postavi temelj racionalističnemu pojmovanju jezika v jezikoslovju, ki jezik razume kot biološko danost lastno človeku in ne kot napredovanje v razvoju bioloških vrst. Sestavek je predstavitev glavnih argumentov naklonjenih racionalistični interpretaciji jezika.
Ključne besede: teorija jezika, racionalizem, misel, stavek in gramatika.
Abstract:
Theorists of language developed in the history of theory of language two basic approaches to the analysis of language and sentential meaning which evolved out of the medieval problem of universals and continued in disputes between empiricists and rationalists in the Modern Times. These were the disputes between the advocates of psychologism and their opponents, the rationalists, who did not oppose psychologism as a completely erroneous doctrine but claimed that the psychologistic explanation of language does not suffice for the explanation of truthful meaning of sentences concerning eternal truths. Frege's question regarding the truthfulness of mathematical and logical sentences therefore, in this context, represents an attempt to resolve the dispute concerning the objectivity of understanding of reality which at the turn of the 20th century no longer occurs as an epistemological question but as the question of propositional logic, which presents the basis of contemporary philosophy of language. Chomsky, who provides the basis for rationalistic understanding of language in linguistics, also claims the rationalistic viewpoint and holds language to be a biologically given characteristic of humans and not a progress in the development of biological species. The composition is a presentation of the main arguments dedicated to the rationalistic interpretation of language.
Keywords: theory of language, rationalism, thought, sentence and grammar.
conference presentation
Books
Interpreting Interreligious Relations with Wittgenstein argues that Wittgenstein’s philosophy of religion and his thought in general continue to be highly relevant for present and future research on interreligious relations. Spanning several (sub)disciplines – from philosophy of religion, philosophy of language, comparative philosophy, comparative theology, to religious studies – the contributions engage with recent developments in interpretation of Wittgenstein and those in philosophy and theology of interreligious encounter. The book shows that there is an important and under-explored potential for constructive and fruitful engagement between these academic fields. It explores, and attempts to realize, some of this potential by involving both philosophers and theologians, and critically assesses previous applications of Wittgenstein’s work in interreligious studies.
Translations
Knjiga je prevod Wittgensteinovih predavanj, ki jih je imel na Univerzi v Cambridgeu med leti 1932 in 1935. Autor obravnava pomen besede, negacijo, gramatična pravila, jezikovne igre in Russllove propozicije.
Ključne besede: metafizika, etika, nesmiselni stavki, smisel, terapija, Traktat, Wittgenstein
If the question concerning the borderline of knowledge is characteristic for Kant's philosophy, we can claim for Wittgenstein that he devoted his life to the question concerning the nature of language and its relation to the world. Such a connection is not only marked by the logic of language, but it is also specified in terms of ethics, as the ethics present an attitude to the world, which can penetrate any thought or talk. The bond between a man, language and the world is thus conditioned with the logic as well as with ethics, which enable the reader of the Tractatus, to restore contact between the language and world therapeutically.
Keywords: metaphysics, ethics, nonsense-sentences, sense, thought (Gedanke), therapy, Tractatus, Wittgenstein
Blog Posts
In the times of pandemic, we are witnessing a general appeal for humanity. Politicians are competing among themselves who will more determinately stand up for the humankind, for protecting lives before the economy and individuals before malady.
conference organisation
Invited Lecture
In the same way, as Tolstoy was searching for the true meaning of life, Wittgenstein was concerned with the same question in his early writings, namely, with the purpose of life or the world. (NB, p. 73) If Tolstoy enquired about the subject matter from a religious perspective, Wittgenstein posed the question from an ethical, aesthetic, spiritual and epistemological point of view. If religion reveals "the true meaning of life", the ethics of a happy man shows in his way of living, namely in his actions and attitudes. Accordingly, religion and ethics treat "the true meaning of life" by investigating "the meaning of the world". For Wittgenstein, ethics and religion are in close association, as they both disclose the fundamental sense of life and the world, without which human existence becomes unbearable. When "the true meaning of the world" is taken hold, despair is overcome, and one can hope to live happily.
The lecture focuses mainly on Tractarian ethics and maintains that the Tractatus is not only a philosophical writing on ethics but also a righteous deed.
which is not entirely accidental, as he held the view that the nature
of aesthetics is not appropriate for abstract philosophical discussion,
art, especially music, had a paramount place in his life (Schroeder
2017). Wittgenstein’s critique of aesthetics, which is unusual for classical
philosophical discourse, ends with a finding that aesthetic questions
belong to art criticism (Schroeder 2017) rather than philosophical
theory; otherwise, they quickly end with aestheticism. It is precisely the
critique of classical philosophical theories in the field of aesthetics that
reveals the true essence of art, thereby contributing to the understanding
of culture in modern society.
Ob koncu Logično filozofskega traktata Wittgenstein sprevidi, da očiščenje naravnega jezika vseh jezikovnih aporij sicer res odpravi pomanjkljivosti slovnične strukturiranosti stavka, ki nas s svojo površinskostjo odvrača od njegovega pravega smisla, vendar le-ta ne zmore izraziti vsebine misli in kot čista struktura (forma) stavka ostaja prazen. Ker logično-analitična obravnava stavkov v Traktatu zajema le opisno stavčno funkcijo, ne pa tudi drugih funkcij, se na ta način ustvarja napačen videz o pravilnosti lastnih izhodišč. Filozofija poznega Wittgensteina zato izhaja iz spoznanja, da je za enakovredno obravnavo različnih stavčnih funkcij potrebna drugačna metodologija, kot so jo predvideli analitični filozofi na prelomu dvajsetega stoletja. Metoda govornih dejanj3 [speech acts], kot preproste jezikovne igre [Sprachspiel], omogoča enotnejšo obravnavo pomena stavkov naravnega jezika. Članek je predstavitev metode govornih dejanj v pozni filozofiji Ludwiga Wittgensteina, kot iskanja nujnih pogojev smiselnega izjavljanja.
The paper introduces the main theses for therapeutic interpretation, which looks for arguments in favour of continuity in therapy, as the common method of both early and late Wittgenstein. The paper presents and explains the reasons for the therapeutic interpretation of Tractatus, which understands the method of Tractatus as therapy rather than logical analysis of sentences. The therapeutic method acts therapeutically on the reader of Tractatus, as it brings him to a realization that philosophical problems are to be found in the metaphysical way of thinking.
V zgodovini teorije jezika so teoretiki jezika razvili dva osnovna pristopa analize jezika in stavčnega pomena, ki izhajata iz srednjeveškega spora o univerzalijah in se v novem veku nadaljujeta v razpravah med empiristi in racionalisti. Gre za razprave med zagovorniki psihologizma in njihovimi nasprotniki, racionalisti, ki psihologizma niso zavračali kot povsem napačne doktrine, trdili so le, da psihologistična razlaga jezika ne zadošča za pojasnitev resničnega pomena stavkov večnih resnic. Fregejevo vprašanje o resnici matematičnih in logičnih stavkov ni v tem kontekstu torej nič drugega kot poskus razrešitve spora o objektivnosti umevanja realnosti, ki na prelomu 20. stoletja ne nastopa več kot epistemološko vprašanje, ampak kot vprašanje stavčne logike, ki predstavlja osnovo sodobne filozofije jezika. Racionalistično stališče do teorije jezika sprejema tudi Chomsky, ki postavi temelj racionalističnemu pojmovanju jezika v jezikoslovju, ki jezik razume kot biološko danost lastno človeku in ne kot napredovanje v razvoju bioloških vrst. Sestavek je predstavitev glavnih argumentov naklonjenih racionalistični interpretaciji jezika.
Ključne besede: teorija jezika, racionalizem, misel, stavek in gramatika.
Abstract:
Theorists of language developed in the history of theory of language two basic approaches to the analysis of language and sentential meaning which evolved out of the medieval problem of universals and continued in disputes between empiricists and rationalists in the Modern Times. These were the disputes between the advocates of psychologism and their opponents, the rationalists, who did not oppose psychologism as a completely erroneous doctrine but claimed that the psychologistic explanation of language does not suffice for the explanation of truthful meaning of sentences concerning eternal truths. Frege's question regarding the truthfulness of mathematical and logical sentences therefore, in this context, represents an attempt to resolve the dispute concerning the objectivity of understanding of reality which at the turn of the 20th century no longer occurs as an epistemological question but as the question of propositional logic, which presents the basis of contemporary philosophy of language. Chomsky, who provides the basis for rationalistic understanding of language in linguistics, also claims the rationalistic viewpoint and holds language to be a biologically given characteristic of humans and not a progress in the development of biological species. The composition is a presentation of the main arguments dedicated to the rationalistic interpretation of language.
Keywords: theory of language, rationalism, thought, sentence and grammar.
Interpreting Interreligious Relations with Wittgenstein argues that Wittgenstein’s philosophy of religion and his thought in general continue to be highly relevant for present and future research on interreligious relations. Spanning several (sub)disciplines – from philosophy of religion, philosophy of language, comparative philosophy, comparative theology, to religious studies – the contributions engage with recent developments in interpretation of Wittgenstein and those in philosophy and theology of interreligious encounter. The book shows that there is an important and under-explored potential for constructive and fruitful engagement between these academic fields. It explores, and attempts to realize, some of this potential by involving both philosophers and theologians, and critically assesses previous applications of Wittgenstein’s work in interreligious studies.
Knjiga je prevod Wittgensteinovih predavanj, ki jih je imel na Univerzi v Cambridgeu med leti 1932 in 1935. Autor obravnava pomen besede, negacijo, gramatična pravila, jezikovne igre in Russllove propozicije.
Ključne besede: metafizika, etika, nesmiselni stavki, smisel, terapija, Traktat, Wittgenstein
If the question concerning the borderline of knowledge is characteristic for Kant's philosophy, we can claim for Wittgenstein that he devoted his life to the question concerning the nature of language and its relation to the world. Such a connection is not only marked by the logic of language, but it is also specified in terms of ethics, as the ethics present an attitude to the world, which can penetrate any thought or talk. The bond between a man, language and the world is thus conditioned with the logic as well as with ethics, which enable the reader of the Tractatus, to restore contact between the language and world therapeutically.
Keywords: metaphysics, ethics, nonsense-sentences, sense, thought (Gedanke), therapy, Tractatus, Wittgenstein
In the times of pandemic, we are witnessing a general appeal for humanity. Politicians are competing among themselves who will more determinately stand up for the humankind, for protecting lives before the economy and individuals before malady.
In the same way, as Tolstoy was searching for the true meaning of life, Wittgenstein was concerned with the same question in his early writings, namely, with the purpose of life or the world. (NB, p. 73) If Tolstoy enquired about the subject matter from a religious perspective, Wittgenstein posed the question from an ethical, aesthetic, spiritual and epistemological point of view. If religion reveals "the true meaning of life", the ethics of a happy man shows in his way of living, namely in his actions and attitudes. Accordingly, religion and ethics treat "the true meaning of life" by investigating "the meaning of the world". For Wittgenstein, ethics and religion are in close association, as they both disclose the fundamental sense of life and the world, without which human existence becomes unbearable. When "the true meaning of the world" is taken hold, despair is overcome, and one can hope to live happily.
The lecture focuses mainly on Tractarian ethics and maintains that the Tractatus is not only a philosophical writing on ethics but also a righteous deed.