This collection of new essays deals with the relationship between Wittgenstein's life and his philosophy. The first two essays reflect on general problems inherent in philosophical biography itself. The essays that follow draw on recently published letters as well as recently published diaries from the 1930s to explore Wittgenstein's background as an engineer and its relation to the Tractatus, the impact of his schizoid personality on his approach to philosophy, his role as a diarist, letter-writer and polemicist, and finally the complex issue of Wittgenstein as a Jew.
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"[An] important collection of new essays..." Philosophy in Review
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This collection of new essays deals with the relationship between Wittgenstein's life and his philosophy. The first two essays reflect on general problems inherent in philosophical biography itself. The essays that follow draw on recently published letters as well as recently published diaries from the 1930s to explore Wittgenstein's background as an engineer and its relation to the Tractatus, the impact of his schizoid personality on his approach to philosophy, his role as a diarist, letter-writer and polemicist, and finally the complex issue of Wittgenstein as a Jew.
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Provides Greater Insight into the Man and His Work,
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This review is from: Wittgenstein: Biography and Philosophy (Paperback)
This splendid text is a collection of erudite essays covering the many aspects of the philosopher's thoughts, ideas and scattered pieces regarding his interesting life and eccentric personality.
There are nine essays in all, including an intriguing essay by Ray Monk, (Wittgenstein's biographer) arguing that philosophy as biography is simply a path to understanding the philosopher but can also blaze a greater learning path to understanding the work itself. Another German philosopher, Fredric Nietzsche, proposed that all philosophy is but a biography of the particular philosopher. This could well be true however this argument continues to rage to present time. In David Stern's essay, "Was Wittgenstein a Jew", explores specific pieces of Wittgenstein's writing that on face value can be interpreted as anti-Semitic. At this time, though, circa 1929, in his study of language, Stern writes, "...Wittgenstein came to see that the notion of an underlying essential structure (in language) was a demand imposed by a certain way of seeing things, rather than something given to us by the nature of things." (P. 253) It seems though, that in order to get to the root of the matter, that is, language as natural yet relative to time and social conditions, one would need to delve into a deep self- analysis. Interestingly, Wittgenstein was intensely retrospective all his life, and confessed to a few friends that he had lied about his Jewish heritage. These "confession(s)" were an attempt to clear his conscience, cleans his soul, so to speak, because he felt his research, as a philosopher would be fruitless in a state of self-denial. My personal favourite essay is "Deep Disquietudes" (excellent title), writes about Wittgenstein's extreme sensitivity and sense of vulnerability. (P. 109) He discusses the philosopher's possible schizoid personality. He uses many examples from his writings, letters and those who "knew" the man. This essay is well written and offers a plenitude of food for thought. At least a familiarity with the works of Wittgenstein would be of value for the reader of this text, then again, someone new to the man's work with a kernel of curiosity would enjoy this well edited collection of essays. Recommended.
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First Sentence:
The purpose of philosophical biography is very simply stated: it is to understand a philosopher. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
warm conception, philosophical biography, imponderable evidence, cold conception, propositional sign, projective relation, technical philosophy, descriptive geometry, qua philosopher, dogmatic metaphysics, philosophical remarks Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Ludwig Wittgenstein, Basil Blackwell, New York, Bertrand Russell, Ray Monk, Oxford University Press, Vienna Circle, Stanley Cavell, Technische Hochschule, World War, Alfred Nordmann, Recollections of Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, University of Chicago Press, Wittgenstein's Tractatus, Harvard University Press, James Conant, Norman Malcolm, Otto Weininger, Ottoline Morrell, Paul Engelmann, Philosophical Occasions, The Spirit of Solitude, Wittgenstein's Jewishness, Frazer's Golden Bough New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The purpose of philosophical biography is very simply stated: it is to understand a philosopher. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
warm conception, philosophical biography, imponderable evidence, cold conception, propositional sign, projective relation, technical philosophy, descriptive geometry, qua philosopher, dogmatic metaphysics, philosophical remarks Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Ludwig Wittgenstein, Basil Blackwell, New York, Bertrand Russell, Ray Monk, Oxford University Press, Vienna Circle, Stanley Cavell, Technische Hochschule, World War, Alfred Nordmann, Recollections of Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, University of Chicago Press, Wittgenstein's Tractatus, Harvard University Press, James Conant, Norman Malcolm, Otto Weininger, Ottoline Morrell, Paul Engelmann, Philosophical Occasions, The Spirit of Solitude, Wittgenstein's Jewishness, Frazer's Golden Bough New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 100
books:
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14
books
cite this book:
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- Philosophical Investigations (3rd Edition) by Ludwig Wittgenstein on 30 pages
- Culture and Value by Ludwig Wittgenstein on 19 pages
- Philosophical Remarks by Ludwig Wittgenstein on 9 pages
- Ludwig Wittgenstein: A Memoir (Galaxy Books) by Norman Malcolm on 8 pages
- Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius by Ray Monk on 8 pages
See all 100 books this book cites
- Wittgenstein Reads Weininger by David G. Stern on 8 pages
- The Possibility of Discussion: Relativism, Truth And Criticism of Religious Beliefs (Ashgate New Critical Thinking in Philosophy) (Ashgate New Critical Thinking in Philosophy) by Hugo Strandberg on 4 pages
- Wittgenstein: A Critical Reader (Blackwell Critical Reader) by Hans-Johann Glock on page 25, and Back Matter
- Wittgenstein and Judaism (Studies in Judaism) by Ranjit Chatterjee in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Undiscovered Wittgenstein: The Twentieth Century's Most Misunderstood Philosopher by John W. Cook on page 94, and Back Matter
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