Explore UCD

UCD Home >

PHIL31120

Academic Year 2025/2026

Wittgenstein (PHIL31120)

Subject:
Philosophy
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Philosophy
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor James O'Shea
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) is one of the most important philosophers of the twentieth century. The course will begin with his first, enigmatic book, the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1921), but proceeding to a primary focus on his posthumously published work, the Philosophical Investigations (1953), and from there to his outsized influence on later thinkers and philosophers. Topics covered include: the nature of philosophy, meaning and understanding, intentionality, the will, private experience and private language, normativity and rule-following, the 'first person', scepticism and certainty. Wittgenstein's influence was revolutionary and he remains a controversial figure both within and outside philosophy, especially for his apparently nihilistic approach to philosophy itself. Through close in-class discussions of the text and short written assignments in seminar-style, participative fashion (in-person attendance is essential!), we hope to bring out some of the excitement and deep puzzlement that Wittgenstein's writings continue to elicit in everyone, experts and beginners alike.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course, students will be able to describe and critically engage with the main ideas and arguments concerning language, mind and the nature of rule-governed practices in Wittgenstein s later writings.

Indicative Module Content:

Topics covered include Wittgenstein and 20th century philosophy aon the following central problems:

The nature of philosophy,
meaning and understanding,
intentionality,
the will,
private experience,
the 'first person' ('I'),
scepticism and certainty.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

66
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Lectures

24
Tutorial

10
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will be run as a series of face-to-face seminars (in-person attendance throughout is absolutely essential for this module) in which the students are expected to contribute and to have read and thought through the varoius extracts from Wittgenstein's writings and secondary articles in advance. Independent work on the texts, conceptual problem-solving in class, and presenting ideas in seminars and tutorials will enable students to develop their understanding of the philosophical ideas.

Regarding AI use, previous experience in this module has overwhelmingly shown that AI is especially ineffective in helping one to think through Wittgenstein's puzzling texts, and that student writing that has either been produced or 'cleaned up' by AI has received low grades. All writing in this module is required to be entirely the student's own in content and expression.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PHIL30890 - Wittgenstein


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Short (1-page) in-class written activities on the reading for that week. There will be 6 opportunities announced ahead of time: your 4 best grades will count (or you could just do 4). Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No
40
 Yes
Participation in Learning Activities: Our overall judgment as to engagement in tutorials and lectures, with attendance taken at both of these, and frequent, helpful, informed participation also noted. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
10
 No
Exam (In-person): 50-minute Midterm Exam in Week 6 (in your tutorial room on Thursday) based on the readings in Weeks 1-6. Week 6 Graded No
25
 Yes
Assignment(Including Essay): Research essay due at the end of Week 12. Week 12 Graded No
25
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Individually by Brightspace comments on the short assignments (ONLY for assignments submitted ON TIME for that week). Discussion with the Group in seminars about what constitutes a good written assignment for this module.

Here are two helpful general secondary sources for background (other readings will be pdfs supplied on Brightspace, though of course acquiring Wittgenstein's own work, _Philosophical Investigations_ 4th (or 3rd) edition, is highly recommended):

Marie McGinn, _The Routledge Guidebook to Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations_. London: Routledge, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-415-45256-4 (pbk).
Anthony Kenny, _Wittgenstein_ (Revised Edition). Oxford: Blackwell, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-405-15449-9

Name Role
Professor Rowland Stout Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Elmar Unnsteinsson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Philipp Wagenhals Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 11:00 - 12:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 09:00 - 09:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.