Forms of life: From Wittgenstein to Semiotics: the uncertain profile of speech acts

Abstract

This work is a reflection on the concept of form of life in the context of Wittgenstein’s later philosophy and on some of its presuppositions and implications for the understanding of language. The analysis stresses the importance of a particular conception of games of language, which remains foreign to any formal definition, and the crucial role of the notion of action as the ground of certainty. It also points out some shades that appear in the reflection of language and the boundaries of gaze. Finally, the author aims to highlight some affinities and disagreements between Wittgenstein’s vision and certain theoretical constructions, namely Fontanille’s and Zilberberg’s, that, inspired un the Wittgenstinian reflection, work upon the notion of form life, so as the integrate in the framework of semiotics.