Comments on: On Wittgenstein

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 06:51:15 +0000

“I think that the best way to get to know Ludwig is to read Ludwig without the commentators. My favourite book is ܢer Gewiߨeit (On Certainty). I think it’s the single most wonderful philosophy book of the 20th century.
Then, and only then, read the PI.”
John – I am surprised about the recommended order. On Certainty is a collection of notes that Wittgenstein wrote without a view to publication. It was written after PI, sometimes refers to concepts in PI e.g. language games, is narrower in its focus and I would say harder to appreciate unless you had read a lot of other philosophy.
Still I am delighted to have come across someone who has read it. I don’t meet that many
Cheers

By: John Wilkins

John Wilkins — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 06:11:16 +0000

Oh, and point 7 says that claims of reference or ontology that do not resolve down to the logical atoms of propositions cannot be sensibly stated, let alone discussed. Something a bout a fly in a flybottle…

By: John Wilkins

John Wilkins — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 06:09:55 +0000

I think that the best way to get to know Ludwig is to read Ludwig without the commentators. My favourite book is �ber Gewi�heit (On Certainty). I think it’s the single most wonderful philosophy book of the 20th century.
Then, and only then, read the PI.

By: blogista

blogista — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 02:46:20 +0000

Uh. If I’m reading #7 right, it means “if you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, shut up”.
So I’ll just shut up.

By: Bruce Thompson

Bruce Thompson — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 00:37:29 +0000

7., I didn’t say that.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 21:38:44 +0000

John – seems like our posts crossed in the mail. I will look out for Monk – but I think you need to read PI to get to grips with the philosophy.

By: John Lynch

John Lynch — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:53:14 +0000

Yup, I’ve read Wittgenstein’s Poker – that’s what prompted me to read Monk’s biography in the first place.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:25:51 +0000

Hi
I studied philosophy at Cambridge 1969-72 when Wittgenstein was considered to be the ultimate answer to everything. Have you looked at the Philosophical Investigations? I am sure the biography explains that he decided the Tractatus was ill-advised and began again with the Investigations. I have kept them all these years, despite a career in industry, and find them readable (in small bursts), full of insight and almost impossible to summarise.
I also recommend Wittgenstein’s Poker for a fascinating insight into the times, the character of the man and a comparison with Karl Popper.
Hope this is of some use.
Cheers

By: John Lynch

John Lynch — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:18:44 +0000

Monk’s (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140159959/strangerfruit-20) – it’s worthwhile, though I was more interested in W’s life and just glossed the math/philos.

By: Dr. Free-Ride

Dr. Free-Ride — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:15:01 +0000

I don’t know of a good Wittgenstein for Dummies, alas. But I suspect that the Tractatus is what inspires a lot of the late-Wittgenstein love. (In other words, I’m not sure how big a hit the late-Wittgenstein would have been without the early-Wittgenstein to compare it to.)
Which biography was it? Would you recommend it?