Customer Reviews

Wittgenstein's Lectures on the Foundations of Mathematics, Cambridge, 1939

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In most ways I've found this book easier going than his "Remarks on the Foundations of Mathematics," though of course there is some overlap. The continuity of the examples and discussion is well worth any confusion in the presentation (these are, after all, lecture notes by his students). It's also fairly strange to see, in the middle of a lecture, Alan Turing ask a question...

The best part, however, is that this is perhaps the sweetest-smelling book I have ever read. And what, to be honest, goes better with abstract investigations into the basis of mathematics than the smell of cookies? Nothing, that's what.

This particular work on some of Wittgenstein's Cambridge lectures seems to me to be quite rambling in nature; however, since I've only read the first few lectures in "Wittgenstein's Lectures on the Foundations of Mathematics", I'm unprepared to offer much criticism or commendation. It appears that Wittgenstein had extraordinarily creative and brilliant insights into various aspects of philosophy, including the philosophy of mathematics. Yet, I suppose that his methods of using all sorts of circumlocutions ("beating around the bush") are characteristic of his philosophizing.

For those who enjoy delving into deep and abstract philosophical issues, such as foundations of mathematics, philosophy of language, etc., Wittgenstein's writings can be quite thought-provoking and challenging. Few 20th century philosophers have had as great an impact on the philosophy of language in the West as has Wittgenstein. So, if you're one of those individuals who enjoys having his/her imagination taken on a wild tour of complex and philosophically abstruse ideas, Wittgenstein's philosophizing (including the book currently being reviewed) is not a bad place to find them.