Abstract

The continuities as well as the differences between Wittgenstein’s late work and pragmatism received a number of readings, and it is relevant to consider that, while the Austrian philosopher concentrates his analysis on language, classical pragmatists have experience as a key element of their conceptual toolkit. Yet, it is worth acknowledging that the opposition between experience and language appears flimsy when one pays attention to the classical pragmatists’ treatment of the notion of experience, according to which no experience can be outlined a part from the linguistic/semiotic tools that constitute human abilities and performances. Reminding that for pragmatist philosophers “language is the tool of the tools”- as Dewey asserts – allows one to appreciate the ‘family resemblance’ between Wittgenstein’s, Peirce’s and James’ respective attempts to overcome the realist-antirealist opposition. First of all, it will be possible to point out the ‘therapeutic’ feature of their philosophy as the cornerstone of their common intent to show that our assertions about reality are embedded in the inter-actions of human communities.