Mind Wittgenstein's investigations of language lead to several issues concerning the mind. His key target of criticism is any form of extreme mentalism that posits mental states that are entirely unconnected to the subject's environment. For Wittgenstein, thought is inevitably tied to language, which is inherently social. Part of Wittgenstein's credo is captured in the following proclamation: "An 'inner process' stands in need of outward criteria."§580. This follows primarily from his conclusions about private languages: a private mental state (a sensation of pain, for example) cannot be adequately discussed without public criteria for identifying it.
Mind Wittgenstein's investigations of language lead to several issues concerning the mind. His key target of criticism is any form of extreme mentalism that posits mental states that are entirely unconnected to the subject's environment. For Wittgenstein, thought is inevitably tied to language, whi:ch is inherently social. Part of Wittgenstein's credo is captured in the following proclamation "An 'inner process' stands in need of outward criteria."§580. This follows primarily from his conclusions about private languages: a private mental state (a sensation of pain, for example) cannot be adequately discussed without public criteria for identifying it.