Is Analytical Philosophy an Attempt to Imitate the Scientific Method?

No, it is an attempt to apply logic to metaphysics. It cannot imitate the scientific method because there is no way of creating theories that can be tested. The banal implication lurking in the question suggests a more limited perception of the Scientific Method. For instance, Logical Positivism, espoused by the Vienna Circle and Wittgenstein's early work, sought to imitate the scientific method. However, Wittgenstein's later work was hardly an attempt to imitate his early work. To the extent that Wittgenstein's later work fueled a resurgence in analytical philosophy, advancing well beyond seems the appropriate label.

Logical Positivism and Wittgenstein

Wittgenstein's recognition that his early work missed large chunks of human knowledge that is not scientific was his motive for his later work. Logical Positivism, as espoused by the Vienna Circle, and Wittgenstein's simultaneous endorsement and rejection of it, highlight the complexity and evolution of analytical philosophy. The question calls to mind Logical Positivism, which attempted to apply scientific methods to philosophical questions, often without success.

The Origins of Analytical Philosophy

Analytical philosophy didn't begin with the idea of copying the scientific method; it started with the application of a new method to the study of arithmetic. Kant argued that “235” is synthetic because the concept of “23” does not contain the concept of “5”. However, attempts to determine if one concept contains another often relied on introspection. Instead of encouraging mathematicians to engage in introspection, Frege invented a new language and showed how it was possible to define concepts like “23” and “5” from more basic concepts. The goal was to demonstrate that all truths of arithmetic could be derived from purely logical axioms.

Russell and Frege

Russell demonstrated that Frege's axioms could not be used to achieve this goal, as they implied a contradiction. However, Russell and Whitehead tried to achieve Frege's goal using different axioms. G?del later demonstrated that no consistent system could be used to derive all truths of arithmetic. By this time, many philosophers had already drawn the lesson that Kant was wrong to say that arithmetic was synthetic and that this insight had been revealed by the use of a new analytical method.

The Impact of Analytical Philosophy

Theories like Logical Positivism were based on this supposed discovery about the nature of arithmetic. Even philosophers who had doubts about this new method and wanted to point out its limitations—such as those who thought that ordinary language was more subtle than any artificial language—were called "analytical philosophers." Thus, originally, it was not about applying an existing scientific method to philosophical questions but using a newly invented method to turn philosophy into a science. However, very quickly, analytical philosophy expanded to include all kinds of approaches that were given a single name—analytical philosophy—because they were part of a single conversation.

Conclusion

Whether analytical philosophy imitates the scientific method or advances beyond it, its foundational goal is to apply logical analysis to philosophical questions. The evolution of this field reflects a deepening understanding of the relationship between logic, mathematics, and language, and it continues to evolve in discussions and debates among philosophers.