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Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) was an extraordinarily original philospher, whose influence on twentieth-century thinking goes well beyond philosophy itself. In Wittgenstein: A Very Short Introduction, which aims to make Wittgenstein's thought accessible to the general non-specialist reader, A. C. Grayling explains 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.
1: Life and character
The early philosophy
2: Aims and background
3: The argument of the Tractatus
4: Some comments and questions
5: The influence of the early philosophy
The later philosophy
6: The transitional period
7: Method, meaning, and use
8: Understanding and rule following
9: 'Forms of life', private language, and criteria
10: Mind and knowledge
11: Some reflections and comments
12: Wittgenstein and recent philosophy
Further reading
Index
"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
