Background
Mauthner, Fritz was born on November 22, 1849 in Königgrätz, Bohemia.
writer philosopher of language
Mauthner, Fritz was born on November 22, 1849 in Königgrätz, Bohemia.
Studied Law, amongst other subjects, in Prague, but did not take a degree.
1876-1905, theatre critic for Berliner Tageblatt. 1905 7, Freiburg; 1907-1923. Meersburg, devoting himself to philosophy.
Mauthner did not follow a career but gained a reputation for his poetry, novels, parodies and critiques. His philosophical activity took place and drew attention mostly outside the academic sphere. He was influenced by Hume's scepticism and empiricism. On their grounds he developed his ‘critique of language’. On Mauthner’s view language does not reflect the world, but rather a worldview that rests on one’s poor fortuitous senses. Taking language seriously, as one’s means for knowing the facts of reality, was for Mauthner ‘word superstition’. Since each person depicts m their own language their own worldview, language is not shared by different persons and genuine communication is impossible. The public practice of using words and sentences is of expressive, rather than descriptive powers. For Mauthner. philosophy is a critique of language, meant to show the person the way towards being mystically silent, after one’s having done away with language ‘before, behind and in’ oneself. Mauthner applied his critique of language most intensively to religious expressions. Accordingly, he utterly rejected theology, describing himself as a godless mystic. Some of Mauthners views bear resemblance to certain elements oi Wittgenstein’s philosophy, both in the Tractate and in his later writings. Sources: Edwards; NoB, 3, 1926, pp. 144-51.