analytical philosophy

analytical philosophy

a general term for a type of philosophy based on analytic logic which is hostile to metaphysical speculation. It derives from the English empiricism of LOCKE, HUME and MILL, through the LOGICAL POSITIVISM of the Vienna Circle and the ‘logical atomism’ of the early WITTGENSTEIN and Russell. The subsequent development of ORDINARY LANGUAGE PHILOSOPHY is usually also included, but it differs in important ways by focusing on language in use. These later variants of analytic philosophy are often referred to as linguistic philosophy. See also SPEECH ACT.

Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2000