The Realistic Spirit: Wittgenstein, Philosophy, and the Mind (Representation and Mind) [Paperback]

Cora Diamond (Author), Ned Block (Author), Hilary Putnam (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0262540746 | ISBN-13: 978-0262540742 | Publication Date: March 2, 1995

The realistic spirit, a nonmetaphysical approach to philosophical thought concerned with the character of philosophy itself, informs all of the discussions in these essays by philosopher Cora Diamond. Diamond explains Wittgenstein's notoriously elusive later writings, explores the background to his thought in the work of Frege, and discusses ethics in a way that reflects his influence. Diamond's new reading of Wittgenstein challenges currently accepted interpretations and shows what it means to look without mythology at the coherence, commitments, and connections that are distinctive of the mind.Representation and Mind series

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is the most important book on Wittgenstein in over a decade, but it is also much more than that. These essays range widely over issues in the philosophy of language, ethics, and literature and they illuminate everything they touch. They show the full range and power of one of the best philosophical minds I know." --Hillary Putnam, Harvard University "To my mind, Diamond, more than any other commentator, conveys an accurate sense of Wittgenstein's methods and goals in philosophy. Her essays illuminating the complicated subtle relationships between the earlier and later works are the best in the field." --Thomas Ricketts, University of Pennsylvania

About the Author

Cora Diamond is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Virginia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: A Bradford Book (March 2, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262540746
• ISBN-13: 978-0262540742
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A convincing and attractive interpretataion of Wittgenstein, December 21, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Auckland, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Realistic Spirit: Wittgenstein, Philosophy, and the Mind (Representation and Mind) (Paperback)

I own a few books on philosophy but this is currently my favourite. Ms Diamaond has produced a convincing and attractive interpretation of Wittgenstein's philosophy, which is at the same time an attractive conception of philosophy and what it might add to our lives. In keeping with her conception of philosophy - also because it is a collection of essays written at different times - this is not an essay book to sum up. However, some threads appear a number of times. She shows me a way of conceiving thought which on the one hand avoids the view that anything goes, that there are no standards and commitments proper to thought, and on the other hand avoids the view that any thinking that can't be reduced to a mechanical process is irrational or as good as. She shows that what we think we might need in order to shore up, say, rationality or objectivity or morality, say some metaphysics, we don't actually need, and in fact these false needs will soon enough lead to the end of rationality, objectivity and morality. If you have ever strugged with Wittgenstein, excited but confussed by what you are reading, this book might just be what you need. If you have ever had the feeling that even were science and, say, management, to be perfected there would still be something important left for thought to do, and without becoming art, and that this might be called philosophy, then this book shows what that might be. All in all a wonderful book.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go the bloody HARD way, May 18, 2000

By 

A. Barnett - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Realistic Spirit: Wittgenstein, Philosophy, and the Mind (Representation and Mind) (Paperback)

Rush Rhees writes: "In philosophy there are no 'means of transport' by which you can reach your objective. No developments outside of philosophy, for instance, can make philosophy any easier...There can be nothing like the service which computers bring to mathematics...The philosophical difficulties have to be met and worked through. There is no sort of 'simplification', which will make them any less difficult."

Cora Diamond goes the bloody hard way and works her way through the problems. Hopefully you can work through them with her and find clarity and grace. Silence in philosophy is akin to recovery in physical therapy, it only comes when we meet our ailments head on.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Good As It Gets, October 5, 2002

By 

Flounder (Substitution Instance) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Realistic Spirit: Wittgenstein, Philosophy, and the Mind (Representation and Mind) (Paperback)

This is one of the best texts on Wittgenstein ever written by a leading figure in the field. The prose here is clear and rigorous. Each chapter is excellent.

I recommend the following chapters: Intro. 1, "Philosophy and the Mind," Intro II, "W. and Metaphysics," Ch. 1, "Realism and the Realistic Spirit," Ch 2, "Frege and Nonsense," Ch 3, "What Nonsense Might Be," Ch 7, "Wright's W," Ch 8, "Secondary Sense," and Ch 9, "The Face of Necessity."

This book earns my highest recommendation.

I also recommend: The New Wittgenstein, David Pears, David Stern, The Cambridge Companion, W. in America, and the respective articles by Dummett, Putnam, Stroud, and McDowell. Kripke is also worth looking at, and in this regard, see Gibbs on rule-following.