How to Read Wittgenstein (How to Read)

Approaching the writing of major intellectuals, artists, and philosophers need no longer be daunting. How to Read is a new sort of introduction--a personal master class in reading--that brings you face to face with the work of some of the most influential and challenging writers in history. In lucid, accessible language, these books explain essential topics such as Wittgenstein's determination to insist on the integrity and the autonomy of nonscientific forms of understanding. Though Wittgenstein wrote on the same subjects that dominate the work of other analytic philosophers — the nature of logic, the limits of language, the analysis of meaning — he did so in a peculiarly poetic style that separates his work sharply from that of his peers and makes the question of how to read him particularly pertinent. At the root of Wittgenstein's thought, Monk argues, is a determination to resist the scientism characteristic of our age, a determination to insist on the integrity and the autonomy of non-scientific forms of understanding. The kind of understanding we seek in philosophy, Wittgenstein tried to make clear, is similar to the kind we might seek of a person, a piece of music, or, indeed, of a poem. Though Wittgenstein Wrote On The Same Subjects That Dominate The Work Of Other Analytic Philosophies - The Nature Of Logic, The Limits Of Language, The Analysis Of Meaning - He Did So In A Peculiarly Poetic Style That Separates His Work Sharply From That Of His Peers And Makes The Question Of How To Read Him Particularly Pertinent. At The Root Of Wittgenstein's Thought, Ray Monk Argues, Is A Determination To Resist The Scientism Characteristic Of Our Age, A Determination To Insist On The Integrity And The Autonomy Of Nonscientific Forms Of Understanding. The Kind Of Understanding We Seek In Philosophy, Wittgenstein Tried To Make Clear, Is Similar To The Kind We Might Seek Of A Person, A Piece Of Music, Or, Indeed, Of A Poem. -- From Back Cover. Logic, Science And Business -- Clearing Up Philosophy In Three Words -- Picturing The World -- What Is A Proposition? -- What Is Philosophy? -- The Disintegration Of Logical Form -- The New Philosophy : Giving Up The Crystalline Purity Of Logic -- Language Games -- Can There Be A Private Language? -- Reading Wittgenstein In The Right Spirit -- Understanding Others, Understanding Ourselves : Imponderable Evidence. Ray Monk. Originally Published: London : Granta Books, 2005. Includes Bibliographical References ( P. [109]-110) And Index. Approaching the writing of major intellectuals, artists, and philosophers need no longer be daunting.__How to Read__is a new sort of introduction--a personal master class in reading--that brings you face to face with the work of some of the most influential and challenging writers in history. In lucid, accessible language, these books explain essential topics such as Wittgenstein's determination to insist on the integrity and the autonomy of nonscientific forms of understanding.Though Wittgenstein wrote on the same subjects that dominate the work of other analytic philosophers — the nature of logic, the limits of language, the analysis of meaning — he did so in a peculiarly poetic style that separates his work sharply from that of his peers and makes the question of how to read him particularly pertinent.At the root of Wittgenstein's thought, Monk argues, is a determination to resist the scientism characteristic of our age, a determination to insist on the integrity and the autonomy of non-scientific forms of understanding. The kind of understanding we seek in philosophy, Wittgenstein tried to make clear, is similar to the kind we might seek of a person, a piece of music, or, indeed, of a poem. Approaching the writing of major intellectuals, artists, and philosophers need no longer be daunting. How to Read is a new sort of introduction a personal master class in reading that brings you face to face with the work of some of the most influential and challenging writers in history. In lucid, accessible language, these books explain essential topics such as Wittgenstein's determination to insist on the integrity and the autonomy of nonscientific forms of understanding. Though Wittgenstein wrote on the same subjects that dominate the work of other analytic philosophers the nature of logic, the limits of language, the analysis of meaning he did so in a peculiarly poetic style that separates his work sharply from that of his peers and makes the question of how to read him particularly pertinent. At the root of Wittgenstein's thought, Monk argues, is a determination to resist the scientism characteristic of our age, a determination to insist on the integrity and the autonomy of non-scientific forms of understanding. The kind of understanding we seek in philosophy, Wittgenstein tried to make clear, is similar to the kind we might seek of a person, a piece of music, or, indeed, of a poem. Though Wittgenstein wrote on the same subjects that dominate the work of other analytic philosophers the nature of logic, the limits of language, the analysis of meaning he did so in a peculiarly poetic style that separates his work sharply from that of his peers and makes the question of how to read him particularly pertinent.At the root of Wittgenstein’s thought, Ray Monk argues, is a determination to resist the scientism characteristic of our age, a determination to insist on the integrity and the autonomy of non-scientific forms of understanding. The kind of understanding we seek in philosophy, Wittgenstein tried to make clear, ts similar to the kind we might seek of a person, a piece of music, or, indeed, a poem.Extracts are taken from Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and from a range of Wittgenstein’s posthumously published writings, including Philosophical Investigations, The Blue and Brown Books and Last Writings on the Philosophy of Psychology.