Wittgenstein and Davidson on Language, Thought, and Action

The first book-length comparative study of Wittgenstein's and Davidson's philosophies, exploring their similarities and demonstrating their continuing relevance to modern debates.

Challenging accepted views about the differences between the thought of two of the major figures of twentieth-century philosophy, this volume demonstrates that there is much that the philosophies of Wittgenstein and Davidson have in common. It will be important for those interested in the philosophy of mind, language, and action.Wittgenstein and Davidson are two of the most influential and controversial figures of twentieth-century philosophy. However, whereas Wittgenstein is often regarded as a deflationary philosopher, Davidson is considered to be a theory builder and systematic philosopher par excellence. Consequently, little work has been devoted to comparing their philosophies with each other. In this volume of new essays, leading scholars show that in fact there is much that the two share. By focusing on the similarities between Wittgenstein and Davidson, the essays present compelling defences of their views and develop more coherent and convincing approaches than either philosopher was able to propose on his own. They show how philosophically fruitful and constructive reflection on Wittgenstein and Davidson continues to be, and how relevant the writings of both philosophers are to current debates in philosophy of mind, language, and action.