Coates, Matthew (2024) Keynes, Wittgenstein, and Probability in the Tractatus. [Preprint]

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Abstract

It has been questioned why Wittgenstein wrote a significant amount on the foundations of probability in the Tractatus. In this paper I answer this by claiming that the primary aim of Wittgenstein's account was to criticize a Keynesian theory of probability, and provide multiple pieces of evidence to demonstrate this. This then answers why Wittgenstein wrote such a significant amount on probability. He wrote it because it was salient at the time. Whilst Wittgenstein was at Cambridge there was significant discussion of probability by his philosophical interlocutors, particularly Keynes but also Russell, Moore and others. Wittgenstein thought he had the answers to the problems that were being discussed and set them out in the Tractatus.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Coates, Matthew mncoates@uci.edu
Additional Information:	Forthcoming in HOPOS
Keywords:	Probability, Wittgenstein, Keynes, History of Philosophy
Subjects:	General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics
Depositing User:	Matthew Coates
Date Deposited:	04 Nov 2024 13:03
Last Modified:	04 Nov 2024 13:03
Item ID:	24159
Subjects:	General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics
Date:	2024
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24159

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