Discussion: Remarks on Frazer's Golden Bough

Author: Ludwig Wittgenstein

Description: Wittgenstein’s brief but impactful remarks critique James Frazer’s influential work, The Golden Bough, which explores the similarities between religious practices across cultures. Wittgenstein challenges Frazer’s assumptions about ritual and religion, emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural context and the diversity of human practices. Rather than simply categorizing rituals and beliefs, Wittgenstein urges a more nuanced approach that considers the lived meanings and social functions of these practices. His work here is a key example of his later philosophical thought, focusing on language games and the fluid, context-dependent nature of human understanding.

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