Introduction to the Concept of "Forms of Life"

The question of what Wittgenstein meant by "forms of life" has attracted a great deal of attention in the literature, yet it is an expression that Wittgenstein himself employs on only a relatively small number of occasions, and that he does not explicitly define.

This Element gives a description of this concept that also explains Wittgenstein's reluctance to say much about it. A short historical introduction examines the origins and uses of the term in Wittgenstein's time.

Survey of Wittgenstein's Employment and Literature

The Element then presents a survey of Wittgenstein's employment of it, and an overview of the literature.

Methodological Interpretation

Finally, the Element offers a methodological reading of this notion, interpreting it as a conceptual tool in Wittgenstein's wider inquiries into the workings of our language.