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A. C. Grayling
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Wittgenstein: A Very Short Introduction 1st Edition

by A. C. Grayling (Author)

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Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) was an extraordinarily original thinker, whose influence on twentieth-century thinking far outside the bounds of philosophy alone. In this engaging Introduction, A.C. Grayling makes Wittgenstein's thought accessible to the general reader by explaining the nature and impact of Wittgenstein's views. He describes both his early and later philosophy, the differences and connections between them, and gives a fresh assessment of Wittgenstein's continuing influence on contemporary thought.
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  1. ISBN-10
    9780192854117
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0192854117
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    July 28, 2001
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    7.02 x 4.45 x 0.41 inches
  8. Print length
    160 pages
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From the Publisher

very short introducations, introductions, comprehensive
very short introductions, VSI, key features, concise, exper authors, analysis, grow your knowledge
Very Short Introductions, reviews, praise

Editorial Reviews

Review

`Lucidly and attractively written.' Heythrop Journal`Anyone wanting to come to grips with the later Wittgenstein's views on philosophy, his beliefs about the nature of thought and language, and his many unignorable (if sometimes muddled and often muddling) ideas in the philosophy of the mind could do no better than start here.' Guardian`[Grayling] is to be congratulated on the success of his enterprise in a book which is a model of expository elgance ... an admirably clear and concise introduction' Philosophical Books

Book Description

A compact introduction to one of the leading philsophers of the 20th century

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0192854119
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 28, 2001
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780192854117
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0192854117
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.02 x 4.45 x 0.41 inches
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1310L
  • Best Sellers Rank: #361,723 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

About the author

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A. C. Grayling

A. C. Grayling

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A.C. Grayling is Professor of Philosophy and Principal of the New College of the Humanities at Northeastern University London. He believes that philosophy should take an active, useful role in society. He has written and edited many books, both scholarly and for a general readership, and has been a regular contributor to The Times, Financial Times, Observer, Independent on Sunday, Economist, Literary Review, New Statesman and Prospect, and is a frequent and popular contributor to radio and television programmes, including Newsnight, Today, In Our Time, Start the Week and CNN news. He is a former Fellow of the World Economic Forum at Davos, a Vice President of the British Humanist Association, an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society, Patron of the UK Armed Forces Humanist association, Patron of Dignity in Dying, a former Booker Prize Judge, a Fellow of the Royal Literary Society, a member of the human rights group IHEU represented at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva; and much more.

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Kevin J. Pigott
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ludwig Wittgenstein
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2025
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    Great introduction and summary.
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  • J
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction
    Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2025
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    This is a good introduction book, which Grayling tried his best to illustrate (somewhat) Wittgenstein’s thoughts. The text is a bit too difficult as a very short introduction, yet it is understandable for such an obscure philosopher.
    It should also be noted that it is clear that Grayling did not see highly of Wittgenstein, and he posed a lot of challenge though-out the book
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  • Michael George
    5.0 out of 5 stars A helpful point of view to start a study of Wittgenstein's work
    Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2017
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    Prof. Grayling was a big help to me in this book. I have been reading Wittgenstein's Tractatus, and I have found it to be very difficult. This is the product of Wittgenstein's efforts when young, following intense work with Bertrand Russell, and influenced by Frege's work in logic, and also following a very difficult experience as a soldier in WWI. I thought that Prof. Grayling's very clear ideas about the Tractatus were encouraging, and I intend to go back and read the Tractatus once again. This book on Wittgenstein first gives a short but illuminating biography of Wittgenstein before discussing the Tractatus. Following his presentation on the Tractatus, Prof. Grayling makes some critical remarks about this early work of Wittgenstein, and then launches into a discussion of Wittgenstein's later more evolved thinking as he progressed beyond the Tractatus (although at one point in Wittgenstein's life, he felt he had solved all the major problems in philosophy to his satisfaction with the writing of the Tractatus). Following a discussion of Wittgenstein's later work, Prof. Grayling criticizes this later work, and tries to put Wittgenstein's place in philosophy in some perspective. Wittgenstein was a stunningly original thinker, but he left his work in a position where a lot of it is difficult to interpret and ambiguous. In addition, I have found the Tractatus to be an obscure and esoteric work. Prof. Grayling argues that Wittgenstein's ultimate place in philosophy is quite uncertain, despite the depth of his insights. I feel that for a very short book, Prof. Grayling's account of Wittgenstein's work is very helpful as a whole, and he has an interesting perspective that I think will help me to understand Wittgenstein's writings better. I think this is a good book for someone like me starting a study of Wittgenstein's work.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • reading man
    5.0 out of 5 stars Head Case?
    Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2017
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    This is an excellent overview of W's extremely difficult philosophy, but the short biographical section doesn't answer a question that's of considerable importance to me.

    Was Wittgenstein mentally sound? There's certainly more than a touch of megalomania in his preface to the TRACTATUS, where he claims that the book has resolved (read: dissolved) all the problems of philosophy. His life-style certainly sounds like that of a disturbed individual: mediocre employment by choice, periods of lengthy solitude, and worst of all, a hair-trigger temper and an indifference to other people that's beyond mere arrogance.

    His outrage when his students gave an answer that he consider incorrect speaks to the first point in the last sentence. And there's an incident recorded by F.R. Leavis that exemplifies the second.

    Leavis and W. went out for an evening stroll on the grounds of Cambridge. They decided to hire a boat and drift on the river. Leavis realized that after a certain point the boat had to be returned to the chap in charge so he could close up for the night. He brought this to W's attention, who was apparently totally indifferent to the fact. He just didn't think the time of the boat keeper was worth considering if he preferred to stay on the water.

    I can't help thinking W., in "ordinary language" terms, had a "bolt loose". I don't want to read a full-dress biography like Ray Monk's to find out if this might be true, and I realize it doesn't affect the truth or falsity of his philosophy, but wouldn't it be ironic if a mental case gave us the answer to all philosophical questions?
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Nicholas Kadar
    3.0 out of 5 stars I would not recommend this as a way to glean what Wittgenstein's philosophy consists is.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2017
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    Reading the first chapters - on Wittgenstein's life & early philosophy - made me think that this was going to be one of the best Very Short Introductions. I was, unfortunately disabused of that impression on reading the third chapter dealing with Wittgenstein's later philosophy. Here the reader is treated to explanations so convoluted & prolix, in sentences spanning six or seven lines of text & riddled with subordinate clauses, that it will, I venture to say, vanquish most readers, especially if they skip to the last chapter after reading the first two, as I did, and learn of the professor's low regard for Wittgenstein's influence of philosophy. Wittgenstein's philosophy of language is not so much explained as criticized in question begging illustrations. I will say this, though: the professor is admirably honest in his negative appraisal: still, I felt I was being guided to a conclusions rather than allowed to reach one of my own choosing. I finished the third chapter, considered re-reading it, but then gave up: I simply could not take any more of this convoluted writing.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Steve B
    4.0 out of 5 stars Wittgenstein Overrated
    Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2010
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    AC Grayling, who is a supremely rational and talented philosopher and essayist, has in this little book laid out the basic ideas of Wittgenstein's philosophy, and has clearly demonstrated that they do not make sense. Wittgenstein is accused of anti-realism (he is vague about whether there is an external reality independent of thought and language) and of cognitive relativism (different communities may experience different truths and realities). So, Mr. Wittgenstein, who in the popular mind is a genius of philosophy, is in reality a paragon of irrationality rivaling Derrida or Foucault. Thanks to Grayling, I will never again trouble myself to wonder whether it would be worth the effort to study Wittgenstein. Thank you, AC, for this nice little book.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • gtc53
    5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant
    Reviewed in Australia on August 17, 2024
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    this is the best introduction to wittgenstein's
    thought - A C Grayling has nailed it - anyone interested in wittgenstein's philosophy should not overlook this little gem
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  • Georgios Chatzigeorgiou
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, but not easy to read
    Reviewed in France on May 22, 2025
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    I believe the author did a good job describing the essentials of Wittgenstein's work, but I would not agree that the book can be read easily by someone who knows nothing about philosophy. Wittgenstein is a complex personality with difficult thought process.
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  • Marek C Slowikowski
    5.0 out of 5 stars great book and service
    Reviewed in Canada on April 4, 2015
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    great book and service
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars recommended
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 15, 2015
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    written with amazing clarity. his ultimate view is that wittgenstein is less important in philosophy than frege and russell. i'm not qualified to contradict, but it was convincing to me.
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  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great intro to W.
    Reviewed in Italy on September 1, 2020
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    Simple and captivating, the book provides the readers with the initial coordinates to venture oneself safely into the obscure, and sometimes astruse, although fascinating W.’s prose.
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