LANGUAGE GAMES AS A METHOD OF PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the concept of game in philosophy and the use of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s language games as a method of philosophical analysis. In the contemporary scientific and social context, the notion of game ceases to be regarded solely as a form of entertainment and acquires the status of a universal category capable of modeling various social, cultural, and communicative processes. The author examines the evolution of philosophical understanding of game, from Johan Huizinga to modern approaches associated with language games and the postmodern reinterpretation of game as a form of social interaction and meaning-making. Particular attention is given to Wittgenstein’s concept of language games, which views language as an activity intertwined with specific social practices and the life of communities. L. Wittgenstein's approach allows to identify and examine specific cases of language use, track changes in meaning, analyse the rules governing communication, and distinguish contradictions and different interpretations of complex concepts. The article also highlights the work of contemporary researchers, such as Oskari Kuusela and Harold Garfinkel, who employ language games as a methodological tool that enables modeling complex linguistic and cultural processes, investigating the logic of statements, and analyzing their impact on the formation of social perceptions. The study demonstrates that game, as both a concept and a research method, becomes especially relevant in conditions of polyvariance inherent to contemporary social and communicative processes. The application of language games as a method of philosophical analysis allows to rethink traditional approaches to the study of language, communication, and social reality, while also offering new perspectives for interdisciplinary research, including ethics, political science, and sociology. The concept of language games as a method provides opportunities to analyze communication not only as a mechanism for information transmission but as a process of meaning-making that encompasses freedom, responsibility, and ethical reflection. Accordingly, the article emphasizes the significance of language games as a crucial tool for exploring complex social and cultural phenomena and for developing new methodological approaches in contemporary philosophy.