Wittgenstein and Critical Theory: Beyond Postmodern Criticism and Toward Descriptive Investigations

The Crucial Point of Brill's study is that of fit: which critical methods prove most useful towards opening up which texts? Close investigations into the parameters of the language games of texts, critics, and methods enable us to determine which paths to take towards more complete descriptive analyses and critique. Such an emphasis on the philosophical method of Ludwig Wittgenstein reorients literary criticism to involve a conjoint responsibility to both reader and text as the literary critic assumes the humbler role of a guide who assists a reader in/to diverse literary texts. Wittgenstein's philosophical approach provides us with a strong means of developing such a method for literary criticism -- a method that points the way forward beyond postmodern criticisms and to a categorically new approach to literary texts.Brill, Susan B. is the author of 'Wittgenstein and Critical Theory: Beyond Postmodern Criticism and Toward Descriptive Investigations' with ISBN 9780821410929 and ISBN 082141092X.