Wittgenstein on necessity: ‘Are you not really an idealist in disguise?’

Wittgenstein characterises ‘necessary truths’ as rules of representation that do not answer to reality. The invocation has led many compare his work with Kant's. This comparison is illuminating, but it can also be misleading. Some go far casting Wittgenstein's later philosophy a specie transcendental idealism, an interpretation continues gather support despite scholars pointing its limitations. To understand the temptation this interpretation, attention must paid distinction Bernard Williams (1981) makes, echoing Kant, between empirical and idealism. claims move idealism effort block latter, in context, amounts scepticism regarding necessity denial objectivity. show what wrong important challenge mistaken presumption would otherwise lead fundamental mistake common both attributions they misunderstand relation obtains our contingent facts condition those representation. Once been clarified, understood providing genuine alternative realism