Wittgenstein on Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams

Abstract Wittgenstein’s comments on Freud’s work have been widely discussed. Scholars such as Bouveresse (1995) and Cioffi (2009) have explored Wittgenstein’s conception of the unconscious, while McGuinness (2002) examined their intellectual relationship, and Harcourt (2017) addressed Wittgenstein’s ties to psychoanalysis. Despite recent efforts to connect Wittgenstein’s work with psychology, little attention has been given to the subject that intrigued Wittgenstein most: dreams. His interest in hypnotic phenomena and dream interpretation significantly predates his engagement with Freud (cf. Monk 1990; McGuinness 1988). This paper explores Wittgenstein’s engagement with dreams, primarily as reflected in his “Conversations on Freud”. This analysis will address issues related to the philosophy of science—such as evidence, explanation, and justification—as well as key concerns in Wittgenstein’s work, including his concept of meaning as use and his notion of change of aspect. While Wittgenstein ultimately rejected Freud’s theory due to its scientific and philosophical shortcomings, his admiration for it mirrored his regard for Darwin and Copernicus: not flawless, but profoundly generative.