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John Banville, Irish Times
‘Ray Monk here presents what is surely the best short introduction to the work of this wonderful thinker’
Terry Eagleton, New Statesman
‘Excellent study’
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Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) was by universal agreement one of greatest and one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) was by universal agreement one of greatest and one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is one of a rare kind: Although dense in it's content it is relatively easy to read and does not sacrifice detail or accuracy to accomplish this. Ray Monk is widely known for his excellent biography of Ludwig Wittgenstein and has spent a great deal of his academic career working on his writings. I bought the book because I really liked the biography in both style and content and was wondering how Ray Monk would manage to fit so much content on so few pages. Wittgenstein is exceptionally hard to read. This is not because his style is complicated - quite the contrary: he mostly uses short and clear sentences - but because WHAT he wants to say is so hard to say. Therefore, writing an "How to read" guide in this case is quite some undertaking.
In my view, the particular strengths of the text are:
- CLARITY. Monk is very precise in his wording and yet easy to follow. Great caution is taken to not lead the reader down the track of common misunderstandings.
- COMPLETENESS OF COVERAGE. Starting with Wittgenstein's earliest writings, all main phases of his work are introduced and discussed. I find the choice of texts balanced and wise. This is all the more notable since it is hard to find prototypical passages in his vast and partly unorganized oevre.
- CONTEXT. Disagreeing with another review of the book, I find the discussion of how Wittgenstein's views relate to the intellectual framework he was in far from incomplete. Clearly, Russel's and Frege's Positions are explained in due course. Frank Ramsey's criticism of the Tractatus is oulined; Paul Engelmann's correspondence and memoir is cited as well as Maurice Drury's writings. Many connections and contrasts to classical philosophical standpoints are given (just take look at the index of the book...). As far as alternative views and current discussions go, Ray Monk can not reasonably be accused of not delivering. Just to give two examples, alternative and modern interpretations of the Tractatus (James Conant and Cora Diamond) as well as Saul Kripke's view of the Private Language Argument are presented and discussed. It should be kept in mind that this book is not intended to be a commentary but an introductory guide.
In Summa: In my opinion this is one of the very best introductions to Wittgenstein's writing. I have read many and was absolutely taken by this book. I read it twice within the first week and still go back to it often - particularly when I am looking for a short summary of a particular point. It costs next to nothing so I suggest you take my word for it and give it a try. You will definitely gain insight worth your time and money - even if you are familiar with the subject.
In my view, the particular strengths of the text are:
- CLARITY. Monk is very precise in his wording and yet easy to follow. Great caution is taken to not lead the reader down the track of common misunderstandings.
- COMPLETENESS OF COVERAGE. Starting with Wittgenstein's earliest writings, all main phases of his work are introduced and discussed. I find the choice of texts balanced and wise. This is all the more notable since it is hard to find prototypical passages in his vast and partly unorganized oevre.
- CONTEXT. Disagreeing with another review of the book, I find the discussion of how Wittgenstein's views relate to the intellectual framework he was in far from incomplete. Clearly, Russel's and Frege's Positions are explained in due course. Frank Ramsey's criticism of the Tractatus is oulined; Paul Engelmann's correspondence and memoir is cited as well as Maurice Drury's writings. Many connections and contrasts to classical philosophical standpoints are given (just take look at the index of the book...). As far as alternative views and current discussions go, Ray Monk can not reasonably be accused of not delivering. Just to give two examples, alternative and modern interpretations of the Tractatus (James Conant and Cora Diamond) as well as Saul Kripke's view of the Private Language Argument are presented and discussed. It should be kept in mind that this book is not intended to be a commentary but an introductory guide.
In Summa: In my opinion this is one of the very best introductions to Wittgenstein's writing. I have read many and was absolutely taken by this book. I read it twice within the first week and still go back to it often - particularly when I am looking for a short summary of a particular point. It costs next to nothing so I suggest you take my word for it and give it a try. You will definitely gain insight worth your time and money - even if you are familiar with the subject.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A "reader" differs from an introduction or a beginner's guide. A reader selects key passages from an author, and "brings the reader face-to-face with the writing itself in the company of an expert guide". Thus Ray Monk elucidates key passages of Wittgenstein.
It would seem that the Wittgenstein passages are well chosen, and well explained. As far as the "How to Read" books go, this one strikes a good balance of explanatory power and simplicity of style, and further points out some common mistakes in understanding Wittgenstein. A further strength is its plain explanation of the shift from the Wittgenstein of the Tractatus to the Wittgenstein of the Philosophical Investigations.
Monk expresses some strong views about Wittgenstein, and it would seem hard to tell whether he loves him or hates him. He quotes Wittgenstein's patron, Bertrand Russell, who considered that "the later Wittgenstein seems to have grown tired of serious thinking." This, he considers, may be "precisely right".
A major weakness of the book, I felt, was that Monk did too little to give one a sense of the wider significance of Wittgenstein's views -- or of their wider intent, if Monk should think that Wittgenstein had any. It is one thing to explain a passage in simple terms, another to explain its significance. So, for instance, Monk gives one little idea of the wider place of language games or of private language in the wider scheme of things.
It would seem that the Wittgenstein passages are well chosen, and well explained. As far as the "How to Read" books go, this one strikes a good balance of explanatory power and simplicity of style, and further points out some common mistakes in understanding Wittgenstein. A further strength is its plain explanation of the shift from the Wittgenstein of the Tractatus to the Wittgenstein of the Philosophical Investigations.
Monk expresses some strong views about Wittgenstein, and it would seem hard to tell whether he loves him or hates him. He quotes Wittgenstein's patron, Bertrand Russell, who considered that "the later Wittgenstein seems to have grown tired of serious thinking." This, he considers, may be "precisely right".
A major weakness of the book, I felt, was that Monk did too little to give one a sense of the wider significance of Wittgenstein's views -- or of their wider intent, if Monk should think that Wittgenstein had any. It is one thing to explain a passage in simple terms, another to explain its significance. So, for instance, Monk gives one little idea of the wider place of language games or of private language in the wider scheme of things.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I highly recommend this, by and large, very enjoyable and lucid book on Wittgenstein to all non-philosophers who are interested in the thought of this great man of wisdom.I have been interested in him for many,many years without much intellectually explicit understanding that I could think about and put into words;in other words it was more of an intuitive sense of attachment,or being drawn, something momentous being expressed in his works, that exercises an irresistable pull, so that you keep going back again and again to them, despite his forbidding and difficult style( I experienced something similar in attempting to read and understand some zen masters). This book has helped me take a giant step toward a more explicit understanding, although there is a long way to go; and, probably,many aspects will always remain beyond words. As his famous saying puts it:" Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent".
So if you have had the slightest interest in this sage's work but found him difficult to read AND have found other authors trying to explicate his philosophy even less inviting or encouraging or even palatable(many of them are like a maze you wished you had never bought a ticket to),then THIS is the book to read and reread.
So if you have had the slightest interest in this sage's work but found him difficult to read AND have found other authors trying to explicate his philosophy even less inviting or encouraging or even palatable(many of them are like a maze you wished you had never bought a ticket to),then THIS is the book to read and reread.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Only OK...
This introductory guide is only okay. It provides a sufficicent introduction to his early philosopgy, but I found it lacking for his latter. Read more
Published 4 months ago by A customer
Very helpful introduction
This book manages to be refreshingly short while still conveying a decent idea of how to acquaint yourself with some difficult ideas. Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2009 by Hywel E. Wiggs
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