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99 reviews
July 15,2025
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This book presents an interesting mixture of positivism and mysticism. It is truly a unique piece of work.

As I delved into its pages, I found myself captivated by the blend of rational thinking and the element of mystery. The author's ability to combine these two seemingly disparate concepts in a seamless manner is remarkable.

Not only did I enjoy reading the book, but I also relished the opportunity to discuss it in class. The discussions that ensued were lively and thought-provoking, as my classmates and I explored the various themes and ideas presented in the text.

Overall, this book has left a lasting impression on me. It has challenged my preconceived notions and expanded my intellectual horizons. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a stimulating and engaging read.
July 15,2025
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I read the Indonesian version published by Circa (2020).

I bought this book because I was curious about how logic-philosophy is discussed. And, after finishing reading it, I indeed had quite some difficulty understanding it perhaps due to my background being more in the "Social Sciences" rather than the "Natural Sciences". Yes, because when reading this, there are quite a number of symbols that remind me of when I was studying Natural Sciences and Mathematics in the first year of high school and I didn't quite understand them.

However, what made me understand a little about this book is: "About what cannot be said, we should remain silent" (page 122). This statement makes me think deeply about the limitations of language and our ability to express certain things. It also makes me realize that sometimes, silence can be a more profound and meaningful response than trying to put something into words that may be beyond our comprehension.

Overall, although this book was challenging for me to understand, it still provided some valuable insights and food for thought. I look forward to further exploring the world of logic and philosophy in the future.
July 15,2025
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Wittgenstein's work is probably the single most influential philosophical treatise of the twentieth century. He delves deep into the relationship between language and the world. In his perspective, any meaningful proposition must describe some empirical state of affairs in the world. The propositions of logic, although they don't depict anything concrete, are still a legitimate part of language as they reveal its structural characteristics. On the contrary, propositions that express neither an empirical observation nor a logical truth, which includes the whole of metaphysics and ethics, are strictly senseless.


I used to be extremely fascinated by Wittgenstein, but now my enthusiasm has waned. My patience for his oracular style and his deliberate obscurantism has truly run out. However, despite all the frustrations it brings, there is no doubt that the Tractatus is a work of great genius. It has had a profound impact on the development of philosophy and continues to be studied and debated by scholars today.

July 15,2025
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“What a man cannot speak about, he must pass over in silence.” Ludwig Wittgenstein.


The book is “an inquiry into the kind of philosophy that uses logic as its basis”, and the ways of representing knowledge. One of Wittgenstein's occupations in his research on language (analyzing language into a set of elementary propositions) is particularly in the field of his search for the nature of logic.


The subject matter of the book is difficult and requires more reading to understand what is hidden in the words and meanings. It challenges the reader's intellect and forces them to think deeply about the fundamental concepts of language, logic, and knowledge. Wittgenstein's ideas are not easily accessible, but with careful study and reflection, one can begin to appreciate the depth and significance of his work. His exploration of the relationship between language and reality has had a profound impact on philosophy and continues to be a topic of intense debate and research today.

July 15,2025
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When it is not possible to bring the answer into the pattern of words, the question cannot be asked either.

If a question is essentially not formulated, an answer can be given to it.

Of course, in this case, there is no longer a question left, and that is the answer.

However, it should be noted that this situation is rather unusual and may not occur frequently in normal communication. In most cases, questions are asked with the expectation of receiving a meaningful response that conforms to the context and the nature of the inquiry.

Moreover, the way a question is framed can have a significant impact on the type of answer that is likely to be obtained. A well-structured question is more likely to elicit a clear and accurate response.

Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the formulation of questions to ensure that they are clear, specific, and relevant to the topic at hand. This will not only help to obtain more useful answers but also facilitate effective communication and understanding.
July 15,2025
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"Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent." This profound statement holds great wisdom. It implies that when faced with certain matters that are beyond our comprehension or inability to express clearly, it is wiser to remain silent.

There are times when words fail us, and no matter how hard we try, we cannot accurately convey our thoughts or feelings. In such situations, speaking might only lead to confusion or misinterpretation.

Silence, on the other hand, can be a powerful tool. It allows us to reflect, to listen, and to observe. It gives us the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the situation before attempting to communicate.

So, I shall abide by this principle. I will choose my words carefully and remain silent when necessary. By doing so, I hope to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and to communicate more effectively when the time is right.
July 15,2025
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Unspeakably difficult as it may seem,

yet if one pays close attention to readable secondary works, for instance, those that employ the "Tractatus" as a critical lens on literary works, like Rebecca Schuman's "Kafka and Wittgenstein", then one can obtain access and find a way to understand both Kafka and the "Tractatus". (The passages in the "Tractatus" written in the symbols of logic, however, pose a different challenge.) Just bear in mind that "aesthetics and ethics are one." In other words, similar to the aerial acrobatics of mating hawks, these two subjects are "grammatical displays": tricks in the air we breathe.

By exploring such secondary works, one can gradually untangle the complex web of ideas presented by Kafka and Wittgenstein. The connection between aesthetics and ethics becomes more apparent, revealing the underlying unity in their philosophical and literary concepts.

It is through this process of study and reflection that one can begin to grasp the profound significance of both Kafka's works and the "Tractatus", despite the initial difficulties.
July 15,2025
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Que listo! I guess it means how smart or clever someone or something is. It's a phrase that can be used to express admiration or surprise at someone's intelligence or ability.

For example, if you see someone solve a difficult problem quickly and easily, you might say "Que listo!" to them. Or if you come across a really innovative idea or solution, you could also use this phrase to describe it.

It's a simple yet powerful expression that can convey a lot of meaning in just two words. Whether you're using it to praise a friend, a colleague, or even yourself, "Que listo" is a great way to show appreciation for someone's intelligence and creativity.

So the next time you encounter something or someone that impresses you with their smarts, don't forget to say "Que listo!" and let them know how much you admire them.
July 15,2025
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In 1992, the SF writer William Gibson published Agrippa (a book of the dead) in floppy-disk form. It was a poem about his late father and the Memento-ish evanescence of memory. What made it unique was that it encrypted itself after reading, meaning you could only read it once. There was even a rarer, analog edition printed with photosensitive chemicals that would degrade the ink upon exposure to light.

Two copies had to be sent to the Library of Congress, one to read for cataloguing and the other to be archived, forever unread.

Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus is similar in a way. It is as appetizing a read as frozen porridge on a stick or the "Nutra Loaf" food-bricks served to SuperMax inmates as punishment. It self-immolates in a like fashion. It is a tautology-threaded suicide-vest smuggled into the Agora of philosophy, a "friendly fire" apostasy in the heart of Cambridge.

After 90 pages of mental strain, we are told that everything we've just read is nonsense. Because, according to Wittgenstein, all "philosophy" is nonsense. The Tractatus is like a scaffold that, once ascended, can be junked.

Wittgenstein is like a Zen asshat who makes us hold a stress position for 72 hours in the rain to instill humility. We are led through a vast hall of mirrors that self-annihilates, arriving at the shattered terminus of epistemological overthrow.

Those who've studied metaphysics know how exasperating this writing can be. The rectilinear sight-lines of definition, thesis, and axiom spring a trap, and the circuitous maze of tautology and self-reference leads nowhere.

The Tractatus is a victim of its own certitudes. The "picture theory" of realism is a grand error at the heart of 3000 years of philosophic tail-chasing.

However, there is a glimmer of hope. Proposition 4.112 shows the way to the post-Tractatus Wittgenstein, who became a cognitive-therapist of language-games.

Like Frege, Wittgenstein downsized himself from "the Philosopher" to a mere critic, therapist, dilettante, revisionist, and pedagogue. And that, I think, is a sane place to be.

Buddhist Sand Painting
July 15,2025
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This is a classic of the era of logical positivism. With the blessing of Bertrand Russell, it became an influential text, at least until its author threw it overboard for a new approach with his Philosophical Investigations.

The early Wittgenstein was deeply concerned with the relationship between propositions and the world. He harbored the hope that by offering a comprehensive account of this relationship, all philosophical problems could be neatly resolved. These problems, in his view, emerged because the logic of language was not immediately evident in our ordinary usage of language.

The later Wittgenstein, however, rejected many of the conclusions put forward in the Tractatus. He argued that language is a diverse motley of language-games, and it is within these games that the meaning of words is derived from their public use.

Nevertheless, the Tractatus remains worth reading as it presents the most concise and incisive analysis of propositions through the lens of logic. It offers valuable insights into the nature of language and its relationship with the world, even if some of its ideas were later revised by Wittgenstein himself.
July 15,2025
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Wittgenstein once said that this is not an instructional book. It attempts to solve the philosophical problems it addresses in a way that is oriented towards the purpose of philosophy, and from beginning to end, we can see the ultimate goal of its solutions. It is a general book about everything that can be talked about.

6.41 If the meaning of the world lies outside the world, it is necessary. Everything in the world is as it is, and everything happens as it does; there is no value in it - and if there were, it would have no value.

If there is a value that has value, it must lie outside all happening and being-so. For all happening and being-so is accidental.

What makes it non-accidental cannot lie within the world, for then this would again be accidental.

It must lie outside the world.

6.42 Therefore, there can be no propositions of ethics.

Propositions can express nothing that is higher.

6.421 It is clear that ethics cannot be put into words.

Ethics is transcendental.

(Ethics and aesthetics are one and the same.)
July 15,2025
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I find that the philosophy of the Tao expounded by the old Chinese sages is much more profound and understandable. It is very likely that Wittgenstein had already known and read about it before he embarked on this so-called "nonsense." In my opinion, this makes it worthwhile to understand the self within it.

The philosophy of the Tao offers unique insights into the nature of reality, the relationship between humans and the universe, and the path to inner peace and wisdom. By studying it, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.

Before delving into Wittgenstein's works, it is highly recommended that you read about the philosophy of the Tao. This will provide you with a broader perspective and a more solid foundation for understanding his ideas.

In conclusion, the philosophy of the Tao is a valuable source of wisdom and inspiration that can enhance our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
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