Zettel: 40th Anniversary Edition [Paperback]

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Author), G. E. M. Anscombe (Editor), G. H. von Wright (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 2007

Zettel, an en face bilingual edition, collects fragments from Wittgenstein's work between 1929 and 1948 on issues of the mind, mathematics, and language.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Zettel is a collection of fragments which Wittgenstein cut from various of his typescripts and preserved for future use. More than half of the fragments were written in the years 1946-1948, after the completion of Part I and before the composition of Part II of the Philosophical Investigations. This collection may therefore be regarded as a companion volume to the Investigations, adding to both the scope and the Unity of Wittgenstein's chef d'oeuvre.

The fragments were kept in a box and were not strictly ordered. Many have marks showing changes and improvements made after they were cut from the typescripts; some have remarks added in handwriting. Editing the collection for publication was thus a task of considerable difficulty. Since Zettel was first published, further research has been carried out on the fragments and minute comparisons have been made with their typescript and manuscript sources, revealing certain inaccuracies and misinterpretations in the first editing of the work. The second edition corrects these shortcomings and includes new explanatory footnotes; a detailed index, compiled by Stephen Amdur, has also been added. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 253 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 2 edition (March 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520252446
• ISBN-13: 978-0520252448
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #385,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy This Book First, December 14, 1998

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dionysus - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zettel (English and German Edition) (Paperback)

Before you buy one of the books on Wittgenstein's thought about philosophical psychology, buy the Philosophical Investigations and Zettel. Most of the notes in these other "books" are alternate workings of thoughts already expressed in better form in the Investigations and this volume.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ludwig and the Edge of Reason, May 11, 2010

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Amaranth "music fan" (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zettel: 40th Anniversary Edition (Paperback)

Wittgenstein's "Zettel" is an underrated masterpiece. It has, in embryo, the ideas that would be more clearly formulated in the Philosophical Investigations. While Wittgenstein comes across as cold and intimidating, he is TRULY HUMAN. He says, "A poet's words can pierce us" and "soulful expression in music-this cannot be recognized in rules." He understood, as all truly human philosophers do, that the human experience transcends propriety, rules, and language itself. Wittgenstein doesn't deny the existence of feelings;he discusses fear, grief, and pain. One of his most powerful lines is, "Love is not a feeling. Love is put to the test, pain not. One does not say 'That was not true pain, or it would not have gone off so quickly.'" Wittgenstein wasn't without empathy either--in (548) he discusses empathy and the concept of another's pain.

One could argue that Wittgenstein is arguing nihilistically for the end of philosophy, and an end to emotions--when that is not the case. He has been tragically misinterpreted. He is discussing language, belief, and the human experience (especially emotions) "Zettel" is a perfect companion for Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and the Philosophical Investigations. One might also want to check out the only art film on this great 20th century philosopher by the late, great Derek Jarman Wittgenstein (Special Edition)

11 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Consumate questions -- the edge of meaning, February 2, 2004

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W. Jamison "William S. Jamison" (Eagle River, Ak United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Zettel (English and German Edition) (Paperback)

Keeping in mind that the early Wittgenstein intended to express everything clearly that could be said, though the most important things could not be said, they could only be shown, this book is a marvelous collection of just the sort of questions I suppose led him to change his mind. Each is thoughtful and leads no where -- which is precisely the point.