What is the role of philosophy according to Ludwig Wittgenstein?

Question:In the most pithy form, he wrote, "The object of philosophy is the logical clarification of thoughts."

By this he did not mean clarification in the sense of explaining anything. This is where he seemed to think that all of the rest of philosophy went completely wrong. All the explanations in his view just muddied the waters.

Instead, he saw a very narrow role for philosophy: "Philosophy is a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by means of language." It was not supposed to be about finding things out, but rather about preventing them from being obscured by sloppy language. Presumably, if we had some perfect way of communicating ideas, philosophy would be completely unnecessary altogether.

Nor have too many other philosophers really agreed with him on these and other points. There is reason to believe that even Wittgenstein didn't entirely either (perhaps he was being provocative to make a point, or putting a idea forward that was not necessarily his own as other existentialists have). But that was his most publicised view, at least, whatever became of it later.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: In the most pithy form, he wrote, "The object of philosophy is the logical clarification of thoughts."

By this he did not mean clarification in the sense of explaining anything. This is where he seemed to think that all of the rest of philosophy went completely wrong. All the explanations in his view just muddied the waters.

Instead, he saw a very narrow role for philosophy: "Philosophy is a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by means of language." It was not supposed to be about finding things out, but rather about preventing them from being obscured by sloppy language. Presumably, if we had some perfect way of communicating ideas, philosophy would be completely unnecessary altogether.

Nor have too many other philosophers really agreed with him on these and other points. There is reason to believe that even Wittgenstein didn't entirely either (perhaps he was being provocative to make a point, or putting a idea forward that was not necessarily his own as other existentialists have). But that was his most publicised view, at least, whatever became of it later.

to confuse and render ones mind utterly useless, which I think belongs as the role of religion (mysticism) not philosophy unless your a person like Luddy who believes nothing is provable, thus nothing exists.