Wittgenstein
Biography and Philosophy

A collection of essays exploring the relationship between Wittgenstein's life and his philosophy.

James C. Klagge (Edited by)

9780521803977, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 August 2001

290 pages, 13 b/w illus.
23.5 x 16 x 2.4 cm, 0.54 kg

"[An] important collection of new essays..." Philosophy in Review

This collection of 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. Written by a first-rate team of Wittgenstein scholars including two published biographers of the philosopher, Brian McGuinness and Ray Monk, this collection will appeal to anyone with a serious interest in the most influential philosopher of the twentieth century.

Editor's preface James C. Klagge
Part I. Biography and Philosophy: 1. Philosophical biography: the very idea Ray Monk
2. Philosophy and biography James Conant
Part II. Wittgenstein
3. Wittgenstein and the mind's eye Kelly Hamilton
4. 'Deep Disquietudes': reflections on Wittgenstein as anti-philosopher Louis Sass
5. The sleepy philosopher: how to read Wittgenstein's diaries Alfred Nordmann
6. Letters from a philosopher Joachim Schulte
7. Wittgenstein and reason Hans-Johann Glock
8. Wittgenstein and Jewishness Brian McGuinness
9. Was Wittgenstein a Jew? David Stern.

Subject Areas: History of Western philosophy [HPC]