Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #395283 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780192854117
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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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

About the Author

A.C. Grayling is Lecturer in Philosophy at Birkbeck College, London, and Senior Research Fellow at St Anne's College, Oxford. He is the author of An Introduction to Philosophical Logic, The Refutation of Scepticism, and Berkeley: The Central Arguments, and is also the editor of Philosophy: A Guide through the Subject and Philosophy 2: Further through the Subject.

Customer Reviews

A good deal more lucid than Wittgenstein himself.
A.C. Grayling, also the author of the highly recommended _An Introduction to Philosophical Logic_, here provides a short, easily readable, and surprisingly lucid introduction to the thought of Ludwig Wittgenstein. Anyone who has tried to read Wittgenstein himself will find Grayling's clear exposition a blessed relief. And Grayling's conclusions are very insightful; he has a keen eye for the contradictions inherent in Wittgenstein's theorizing about doing away with theorizing, and he is altogether skeptical that Wittgenstein's influence on analytic philosophy has been as great as some have maintained. Grayling's closing personal view of Wittgenstein's contributions is too delightful to omit: "the journey through Wittgenstein's circuitous, metaphorical, sometimes opaque negations and suggestions is long; but the distance it takes one is short.'

A lucid introduction to Wittgenstein
Even though I have an undergraduate degree in philosophy, I did not study Wittgenstein as a student. After receiving a degree in law and devoting two decades to building a law practice, I once again returned to philosophy, and attempted to read Wittgenstein's "Tractatus" and "Philosophical Investigations." I was at a loss. I simply did not understand what Wittgenstein was trying to say. I then read Grayling's brief introduction to Wittgenstein, which provided a foundation for returning to the original texts. Grayling's "Wittgenstein" proved invaluable to understanding Wittgenstein, and I recommend that anyone approaching Wittgenstein for the first time read Grayling's essay before reading Wittgenstein's texts.

Clear, Substantive, Critical
Grayling's contribution to the delightful Very Short Introduction series provides a remarkably helpful introduction to the thought of one of the less lucid of recent philosophers.

Grayling does everything an introduction should do. He sets Wittgenstein in his historical milieu with a brief biographical sketch focusing on the philosopher's intellectual contacts. He provides a developmental framework for Wittgenstein's thought; a necessity given the significant evolution he undergoes. Most importantly he gives the reader a reasonable grasp of the main contours of Wittgenstein's thought. He gives readers a foudnation that can then be more readily built upon by reading Wittgenstein himself or more advanced secondary sources. Finally, Grayling provides his own critique of Wittgenstein's thought and influence. His critique is helpful largely because it encourages readers to interact with Wittgenstein thoughtfully. One may not be persuaded by Grayling's criticism, but at least the reader will engage the philospher more deeply. And this is always beneficial.

Grayling's little book is recommended for those who are seeking an entry into an important philosopher whose major insights remain compelling.