维特根斯坦:一个彻底的相对主义者?

Wittgenstein: A Radical Relativist?

关于维特根斯坦在确定性问题上是否持有一种相对主义立场,学术界存在一定争论。一些学者认为,对不同的世界图景的认同,表明维特根斯坦在确定性问题上坚持相对主义,应当将他视为一个相对主义者;另一方则主张,世界图景的可替代性所导致的相对主义不过是一种形而上学的可能性。事实上,维特根斯坦一方面肯定了枢轴命题和世界图景作为确定性所发挥的基础性作用,另一方面也承认这些作为确定性被接受下来的东西实际上都具有某种相对性。然而,承认确定的信念系统带有相对性并不等于在确定性问题上持有相对主义立场,更不能由此断定这种相对性会构成不同文化之间进行交流的障碍。相反,维特根斯坦认为,人类共同的行为方式为不同世界图景的交流提供了可能性。语言游戏和确定性的融合视角有助于摆脱相对主义问题的困扰。

There are some debates in academia about whether Wittgenstein holds a position of relativism on certainty issue. Some scholars believe that the recognition of different world pictures suggests that Wittgenstein insists on relativism on certainty problem. We should regard Wittgenstein as a relativist. The other side of the debate thinks that the relativism caused by substitutability of world-pictures is just a kind of metaphysical possibility. Wittgenstein, in fact, on the one hand, affirms the fundamental role of hinges propositions and world pictures, which both can be regard as certainty;on the other hand, he acknowledges that these accepted as certainty things actually have some kind of relativity. However, recognizing the relativity of belief system isn't equal to be a relativism position on certainty problem, nor can it be concluded that this relativity will constitute an obstacle to communication between different cultures. Wittgenstein, on the contrary, argues that the common behavior of mankind provides a possibility of communication for different world pictures. The combination of certainty and language games can help to get rid of the problem of relativism.