Semantics of Colours: Ontological, Epistemological Dimensions.

Review of the publication of the Ukrainian translation of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s “Remarks on Colour”.

Abstract

A review of the Ukrainian translation of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s work (of the so-called “late” period of his legacy) “Remarks on Colours” (1950–1951), published in 2025, is dedicated to understanding the different positive consequences of this event in the Ukrainian philosophical, humanitarian, scientific, artistic, pedagogical, educational, and other spaces. After all, the topic of philosophical reflection on colors turns out to be diversely significant. L. Wittgenstein is one of the founders of the analytical Anglo-American philosophical tradition of the 20th century. He is a genius of philosophy beyond time and traditions; therefore, the completed translation is an undoubted achievement in the general Ukrainian cultural life. L. Wittgenstein’s work “Remarks on Colour”, translated into Ukrainian, was reviewed by the author of this review in the general context of his work, taking into account the ambiguities of its interpretations in semantic, ontological, epistemological dimensions. Semantics, the ways in which our words mean, weigh, become significant – is emphasized as a key to other philosophical dimensions, which are peculiarly actualized by L. Wittgenstein’s work. In the work “Remarks on Colour”, the general methodological guidelines of the philosopher are applied and tested in the special context of visual perception. The general background of this review is the long-term research and the interpretations of L. Wittgenstein’s views in the general context of his life’s work defended by the author.