Philosophy Optional · Paper I · Western Philosophy
Later Wittgenstein Notes · PYQs
Free notes and every UPSC previous year question for Later Wittgenstein, Unit 08 of Paper I, Section A: the official syllabus, 4 topic-wise notes in syllabus order, and all 17 questions from 2000 to 2026 grouped by sub-topic.
4
Free notes
17
Questions listed
12
Asked since 2013
2000–2026
Years covered
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Syllabus Free notes Previous year questions All Philosophy units
Official UPSC syllabus
Later Wittgenstein: syllabus
The syllabus text for this unit in Paper I, Section A (Western Philosophy) of Philosophy Optional. Every note and question on this page maps to it.
Meaning and Use; Language-games; Critique of Private Language.
Paper I · Section A · Unit 08
Later Wittgenstein notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order, written for UPSC Mains in plain language, with diagrams and the previous year questions on each topic.
Free notes
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Meaning as Use: Against the Augustinian Picture, Ostensive Definition, the Tool-box and “Words as Ideas in the Mind”
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Language-Games, Forms of Life and Family Resemblance: Builders, Rules, the Lion that Talks and the Rope of Many Fibres
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The Critique of Private Language: The Diary of “S”, the Beetle in the Box, Pain-Behaviour and the End of Solipsism
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From the Tractatus to the Investigations: Why Wittgenstein Changed His Mind, Philosophy as Therapy, Critics and Indian Parallels
Free practice
Previous year questions: Later Wittgenstein
All 17 questions UPSC has set from this unit between 2000 and 2026, grouped by sub-topic with the most-asked first, newest first within each. Questions from 2013 onwards are shown; earlier ones open on a tap.
How often UPSC asks each sub-topic
| Sub-topic | Questions | Since 2013 | Last asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Language | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Meaning as Use | 3 | 1 | 2026 |
| Picture to Use Theory | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Forms of Life | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Language-games | 2 | 1 | 2014 |
| Family Resemblance | 1 | 1 | 2018 |
| Philosophy as Therapy | 1 | 0 | 2012 |
| Tautologies | 1 | 0 | 2010 |
Private Language
5 questions · 5 since 2013 · last asked 2024
Asked since 2013 · 5
2024Why does later Wittgenstein think that there cannot be a language that only one person can speak — a language that is essentially private? Discuss. (10 marks)2020But could we also imagine a language in which a person could write down or give vocal expression to his inner experiences, his feelings, moods and the rest-for his private use”? Critically discuss the answer offered by Witlgenstein to this question. (15 marks)2019Show how Wittgenstein’s critique of solipsism culminates in the critique of private language. (15 marks)2016Why does Wittgenstein reject the possibility of private language? (10 marks)2013Explain Wittgenstein’s arguments against the possibility of private language. (10 marks)
Meaning as Use
3 questions · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2026
Asked since 2013 · 1
2026Can words be viewed as the ideas in the mind of the person who uses them? Answer with reference to the philosophy of later Wittgenstein. (15 marks)
Show 2 earlier questions (before 2013)
2000–2011 · 2 questions
2011Meaning of the word lies in its use”. Explain in detail (30 marks)2000Wittgenstein on ‘Meaning is use’ (20 marks)
Picture to Use Theory
2 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2025
Asked since 2013 · 2
2025“We should look not to an ideal language which derives its meaning from facts and has a precise logical structure but empirically, to the ways in which languages are actually used.” Explain the transition from early views of Wittgenstein to his later views on language and meaning with reference to this statement. (20 marks)2023What were the main reasons that led Wittgenstein to shift from picture-theory of meaning to use-theory of meaning? Critically discuss. (15 marks)
Forms of Life
2 questions · 2 since 2013 · last asked 2022
Asked since 2013 · 2
2022Establish the tenabilty of later Wittgenstein’s motion of language as form of life. (10 marks)2015Bring out the relationship between language games and forms of life. (20 marks)
Language-games
2 questions · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2014
Asked since 2013 · 1
2014Bring out the significance of language games’ in Wittgenstein’s use theory of meaning. (10 marks)
Show 1 earlier question (before 2013)
2008 · 1 question
2008Wittgenstein’s notion of language-game (20 marks)
Family Resemblance
1 question · 1 since 2013 · last asked 2018
Asked since 2013 · 1
2018How does the notion of ‘family resemblance’ help Wittgenstein to uphold that ‘Language is a game’? Discuss. (10 marks)
Philosophy as Therapy
1 question · 0 since 2013 · last asked 2012
2012 · 1 question
2012According to Wittgenstein ‘Philosophy is a battle against bewitchment of our intelligence by means of language’. Explain the function of philosophy in the above context (12.5 marks)
Tautologies
1 question · 0 since 2013 · last asked 2010
2010 · 1 question
2010Are tautologies meaning according to Wittgenstein? (15 marks)
Year-wise question papers
All question papers Topic-wise PYQ bank (both papers) 2026 paper 2025 paper 2024 paper 2023 paper
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Phenomenology: Husserl
Method; Theory of Essences; Avoidance of Psychologism.
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