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Duncan Richter

Virginia Military Institute, English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies, Faculty Member

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Born in Chester, UK. BA Oxford (PPE), MPhil Swansea, PhD University of Virginia. I teach at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA, USA. Most of what I write is about Wittgenstein, Anscombe, and/or ethics.

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Papers by Duncan Richter

The Good, the Divine, and the Supernatural

Routledge eBooks, Jan 31, 2023

General truths and the danger of relativism in contextual ethics

Philosophical Investigations

«Guaita, l’està mirant fixament»: Anscombe i Wittgenstein sobre animals i intenció

Enrahonar. An international journal of theoretical and practical reason, Mar 31, 2020

Elizabeth Anscombe criticizes Ludwig Wittgenstein for talking about the "natural expression of an... more Elizabeth Anscombe criticizes Ludwig Wittgenstein for talking about the "natural expression of an intention" in his Philosophical Investigations. I consider recent responses to this dispute, especially those by Richard Moran and Martin Stone (writing together) and by Martin Gustafsson. Moran and Stone explain why Anscombe rejects talk of non-human animals expressing intention, but emphasize the importance of language so much that it becomes hard to see on what basis intentions can ever be non-arbitrarily attributed to animals. Gustafsson notices this problem, and offers a solution based on biology and, in particular, knowledge of what is and is not conducive to the flourishing of members of each species. However, this goes beyond what Anscombe says, and introduces other problems. I propose that we can sometimes simply see what an individual intends to do by observing its behavior, without reference to what is good or bad for members of its species. This is true to what Anscombe says and appears to avoid the problems faced by the other views considered.

Whose Ethics? Which Wittgenstein?

Philosophical Papers, 2002

Ethics and Private Language

Philosophical Topics, Dec 2, 2011

There are intriguing hints in the works of Stanley Cavell and Stephen Mulhall of a possible conne... more There are intriguing hints in the works of Stanley Cavell and Stephen Mulhall of a possible connection between ethics and Wittgenstein's remarks on private language, which are concerned with expressions of Empfindungen: feelings or sensations. The point of this paper is to make the case explicitly for seeing such a connection. What the point of that is I will address at the end of the paper. If Mulhall and Cavell both know their Wittgenstein and choose their words carefully, which I will take as given, then the (to me) irresistible ...

See, Its Eye is Fixed On It

Enrahonar

Elizabeth Anscombe criticizes Ludwig Wittgenstein for talking about the “natural expression of an... more Elizabeth Anscombe criticizes Ludwig Wittgenstein for talking about the “natural expression of an intention” in his Philosophical Investigations. I consider recent responses to this dispute, especially those by Richard Moran and Martin Stone (writing together) and by Martin Gustafsson. Moran and Stone explain why Anscombe rejects talk of non-human animals’ expressing intention, but emphasize the importance of language so much that it becomes hard to see on what basis intentions can ever be non-arbitrarily attributed to animals. Gustafsson notices this problem, and offers a solution based on biology and, in particular, knowledge of what is and is not conducive to the flourishing of members of each species. However, this goes beyond what Anscombe says and introduces other problems. I propose that we can sometimes simply see what an individual intends to do by observing its behavior, without reference to what is good or bad for members of its species. This is true to what Anscombe says and appears to avoid the problems faced by the other views considered.

Encyclopedia of Concise Concepts by Women Philosophers (ECC) Broschure

by History of Women Philosophers and Scientists, Ruth E . Hagengruber, Jessica Harmening, Skye Cleary, Maurice Hamington, Duncan Richter, Sylvana Tomaselli, and Sandra Wawrytko

https://historyofwomenphilosophers.org/ecc/#hwps

Nothing to be Said: Wittgenstein and Wittgensteinian Ethics

Wittgenstein and the Value of Clarity

Two potentially competing values in communication are clarity or understanding, on the one hand, ... more Two potentially competing values in communication are clarity or understanding, on the one hand, and achieving (other) particular goals, on the other. In this chapter I address Wittgenstein's concern with clarity, and consider some examples of unclarity, especially deliberate unclarity. I also discuss George Orwell's well-known attack on thoughtless and imprecise language, before turning to Rowan Williams' recent updating of Orwell's argument. My conclusion is not that clarity is more important than anything else, but that it makes sense to value it (rather than simply caring about the more practical results of language-use) and that in some cases we might have to choose between achieving our desired results and being clear. The goodness of clarity does not guarantee that clear communication will always have the best effects. For me on the contrary clarity, transparency, is an end in itself. I am not interested in erecting a building but in having the foundations of possible buildings transparently before me. (CVR 9e; Wittgenstein's emphasis) He does not say why he regards transparency as an end in itself, what is so good about it, but he does say something about what he means by clarity. It means, at least here, having a transparent, unobscured, view of possibilities, or at least the foundations of possibilities. If

Wittgenstein's Ethics in the Koder Diaries

Did Wittgenstein Disagree with Heidegger?

If Ludwig Wittgenstein is the most influential analytic philosopher of the last century, and Mart... more

The Significance of Religious Experience

This is the text of a talk I gave at Western Carolina University. It needs work, but I put it her... more

Teaching notes for a seminar on Wittgenstein and Winch

This is not a polished work but notes on some works by Peter Winch (especially The Idea of a Soci... more

The Possibility of a Social Science

Sketches of Blurred Landscapes

Anscombe and the conception of the architectonic good

Philosophy and Poetry

Abstract Philosophy certainly has connections with science but it is not itself a science. Nor is... more

GEM Anscombe Elizabeth Anscombe, or Miss Anscombe as she was known, was an important twentieth ce... more GEM Anscombe Elizabeth Anscombe, or Miss Anscombe as she was known, was an important twentieth century philosopher and one of the most important women philosophers of all time. A committed Catholic, and translator of some of Ludwig Wittgenstein's most important work, she was an influential and original thinker in the Catholic tradition and the Wittgensteinian manner.

UNDERSTANDING GENOCIDE: Wittgenstein and the Holocaust

Review journal of philosophy & social science, Jan 1, 2000

Social Integrity and Private 'Immorality'The Hart-Devlin Debate Reconsidered

Essays in Philosophy, Jan 1, 2001

The Good, the Divine, and the Supernatural

Routledge eBooks, Jan 31, 2023

General truths and the danger of relativism in contextual ethics

Philosophical Investigations

«Guaita, l’està mirant fixament»: Anscombe i Wittgenstein sobre animals i intenció

Enrahonar. An international journal of theoretical and practical reason, Mar 31, 2020

Elizabeth Anscombe criticizes Ludwig Wittgenstein for talking about the "natural expression of an... more Elizabeth Anscombe criticizes Ludwig Wittgenstein for talking about the "natural expression of an intention" in his Philosophical Investigations. I consider recent responses to this dispute, especially those by Richard Moran and Martin Stone (writing together) and by Martin Gustafsson. Moran and Stone explain why Anscombe rejects talk of non-human animals expressing intention, but emphasize the importance of language so much that it becomes hard to see on what basis intentions can ever be non-arbitrarily attributed to animals. Gustafsson notices this problem, and offers a solution based on biology and, in particular, knowledge of what is and is not conducive to the flourishing of members of each species. However, this goes beyond what Anscombe says, and introduces other problems. I propose that we can sometimes simply see what an individual intends to do by observing its behavior, without reference to what is good or bad for members of its species. This is true to what Anscombe says and appears to avoid the problems faced by the other views considered.

Whose Ethics? Which Wittgenstein?

Philosophical Papers, 2002

Ethics and Private Language

Philosophical Topics, Dec 2, 2011

There are intriguing hints in the works of Stanley Cavell and Stephen Mulhall of a possible conne... more There are intriguing hints in the works of Stanley Cavell and Stephen Mulhall of a possible connection between ethics and Wittgenstein's remarks on private language, which are concerned with expressions of Empfindungen: feelings or sensations. The point of this paper is to make the case explicitly for seeing such a connection. What the point of that is I will address at the end of the paper. If Mulhall and Cavell both know their Wittgenstein and choose their words carefully, which I will take as given, then the (to me) irresistible ...

See, Its Eye is Fixed On It

Enrahonar

Elizabeth Anscombe criticizes Ludwig Wittgenstein for talking about the “natural expression of an... more Elizabeth Anscombe criticizes Ludwig Wittgenstein for talking about the “natural expression of an intention” in his Philosophical Investigations. I consider recent responses to this dispute, especially those by Richard Moran and Martin Stone (writing together) and by Martin Gustafsson. Moran and Stone explain why Anscombe rejects talk of non-human animals’ expressing intention, but emphasize the importance of language so much that it becomes hard to see on what basis intentions can ever be non-arbitrarily attributed to animals. Gustafsson notices this problem, and offers a solution based on biology and, in particular, knowledge of what is and is not conducive to the flourishing of members of each species. However, this goes beyond what Anscombe says and introduces other problems. I propose that we can sometimes simply see what an individual intends to do by observing its behavior, without reference to what is good or bad for members of its species. This is true to what Anscombe says and appears to avoid the problems faced by the other views considered.

Encyclopedia of Concise Concepts by Women Philosophers (ECC) Broschure

by History of Women Philosophers and Scientists, Ruth E . Hagengruber, Jessica Harmening, Skye Cleary, Maurice Hamington, Duncan Richter, Sylvana Tomaselli, and Sandra Wawrytko

https://historyofwomenphilosophers.org/ecc/#hwps

Nothing to be Said: Wittgenstein and Wittgensteinian Ethics

Wittgenstein and the Value of Clarity

Two potentially competing values in communication are clarity or understanding, on the one hand, ... more Two potentially competing values in communication are clarity or understanding, on the one hand, and achieving (other) particular goals, on the other. In this chapter I address Wittgenstein's concern with clarity, and consider some examples of unclarity, especially deliberate unclarity. I also discuss George Orwell's well-known attack on thoughtless and imprecise language, before turning to Rowan Williams' recent updating of Orwell's argument. My conclusion is not that clarity is more important than anything else, but that it makes sense to value it (rather than simply caring about the more practical results of language-use) and that in some cases we might have to choose between achieving our desired results and being clear. The goodness of clarity does not guarantee that clear communication will always have the best effects. For me on the contrary clarity, transparency, is an end in itself. I am not interested in erecting a building but in having the foundations of possible buildings transparently before me. (CVR 9e; Wittgenstein's emphasis) He does not say why he regards transparency as an end in itself, what is so good about it, but he does say something about what he means by clarity. It means, at least here, having a transparent, unobscured, view of possibilities, or at least the foundations of possibilities. If

Wittgenstein's Ethics in the Koder Diaries

Did Wittgenstein Disagree with Heidegger?

If Ludwig Wittgenstein is the most influential analytic philosopher of the last century, and Mart... more

The Significance of Religious Experience

This is the text of a talk I gave at Western Carolina University. It needs work, but I put it her... more

Teaching notes for a seminar on Wittgenstein and Winch

This is not a polished work but notes on some works by Peter Winch (especially The Idea of a Soci... more

The Possibility of a Social Science

Sketches of Blurred Landscapes

Anscombe and the conception of the architectonic good

Philosophy and Poetry

Abstract Philosophy certainly has connections with science but it is not itself a science. Nor is... more

GEM Anscombe Elizabeth Anscombe, or Miss Anscombe as she was known, was an important twentieth ce... more GEM Anscombe Elizabeth Anscombe, or Miss Anscombe as she was known, was an important twentieth century philosopher and one of the most important women philosophers of all time. A committed Catholic, and translator of some of Ludwig Wittgenstein's most important work, she was an influential and original thinker in the Catholic tradition and the Wittgensteinian manner.

UNDERSTANDING GENOCIDE: Wittgenstein and the Holocaust

Review journal of philosophy & social science, Jan 1, 2000

Social Integrity and Private 'Immorality'The Hart-Devlin Debate Reconsidered

Essays in Philosophy, Jan 1, 2001

Augustine and Wittgenstein on the Will

According to G. P. Baker's and P. M. S. Hacker's influential reading of Wittgenstein's work, he b... more

Winch on Understanding Other People

This paper aims to identify the main points that Peter Winch makes, or reminders that he offers, ... more This paper aims to identify the main points that Peter Winch makes, or reminders that he offers, about understanding ourselves and others, and to make the best possible sense of what he has to say on the subject. It would no doubt be possible to construct a theory out of these ideas, but I try to avoid giving the impression that Winch does so. Instead, the most Wittgensteinian approach to the subject is, as Winch does, to describe, remind, and thereby clarify, without putting forward any kind of debatable or questionable hypothesis. What follows is an attempt to sketch this description and its development from The Idea of a Social Science and its Relation to Philosophy through "Understanding a Primitive Society" to "Can We Understand Ourselves?" Winch's work brings out the fact that understanding people is importantly connected to both wisdom and practical being in tune with others, but identical with neither.

How Hateful is Michel Houellebecq?

An essay I wrote about ten years ago.

Ethics After Anscombe: Post "Modern Moral Philosophy"

This is very close to the published version of the book. There is no index, though, and some page... more