This is a great introduction to (or a refresher on, if it has been a while) Wittgenstein. It is especially useful if you don't want to have to struggle through the Tractatus. Since he ultimately rejects the position he takes in that book, there is no substitute for reading the Investigations. However, this introduction could be a useful guide for someone reading the Investigations for the first time outside of a classroom setting.

Wittgenstein's work is complex and often requires careful study. The Tractatus was his earlier work, but he later changed his views. The Investigations is considered his more mature and influential work. Reading the Investigations can be challenging, especially without the guidance of a teacher or professor.

This introduction provides an overview of Wittgenstein's ideas and helps to clarify some of the key concepts. It can serve as a starting point for further exploration of his work. Whether you are new to Wittgenstein or need to refresh your memory, this introduction can be a valuable resource.

I wasn't originally planning on reading this book. However, while reading another book titled Wittgenstein in Vienna, I found myself feeling rather confused. I then realized that I was in desperate need of a refresher on Wittgenstein. My undergraduate degree was in philosophy, but that was a very long time ago!!! So, I picked up a copy of this book. I am a huge fan of Grayling, and I was quite happy when I saw that he was the author of this one. Not too long ago, I had read my first book in the Short Introduction series about Galileo.

Now, that was quite an impressive work. It wasn't just a summary of Galileo; it was a highly opinionated interpretation of his trial. I loved it, and it remains a favorite book in my Galileo library.

Grayling's book does begin with a very strong summary. In fact, I wouldn't have thought it possible to clearly explain both early and later Wittgenstein in such a short book. Wittgenstein is a rare philosopher whose later work completely overturns his early book. But Grayling does an excellent job. It is very clear and logical. I also have Monk's book, How to Read Wittgenstein - which is also good, but it lacks the super detailed and spelled-out summary that Grayling provides.

Some reviewers I've seen were puzzled by the author's dismissal of the commonly held notion that Wittgenstein is the 20th century's greatest philosophical mind. It's true that this is often said - that it's either Wittgenstein or Heidegger who are the greatest philosophical minds of the 20th century. Well, obviously it's Heidegger, and not only that, but it's laughable to compare them in terms of impact and significance. Grayling was quite right to put this idea to rest. I also wholeheartedly agree with Grayling that Wittgenstein is one of the greatest philosophical personalities. He had a fascinating life. Austrian novelist Thomas Bernhard incorporates both Wittgenstein's philosophy and his unusual life (he is unique for a philosopher) into his novels. I highly recommend this short book.

Meh.

He has a rather lukewarm attitude towards Wittgenstein's later philosophy. He is not entirely convinced whether Wittgenstein is truly a great philosopher or just a remarkable personality.

This lack of certainty leads him to not make a particular effort to provide you with reasons to read Wittgenstein's works.

Perhaps he needs more time to study and understand Wittgenstein's ideas in depth before he can form a more definitive opinion.

Or maybe he is influenced by the various interpretations and critiques of Wittgenstein's philosophy that exist.

Either way, for now, his stance remains somewhat ambivalent when it comes to promoting the reading of Wittgenstein's works.

He may need to engage in further exploration and reflection to determine whether Wittgenstein's philosophy holds enough value and significance for him to actively encourage others to read it.

Until then, his lack of enthusiasm for giving reasons to read Wittgenstein's works persists.

Wittgenstein sucks apparently.

Ludwig Wittgenstein is a highly controversial figure in the history of philosophy. Some people believe that his ideas are profound and revolutionary, while others think that his work is晦涩难懂 and even毫无价值.

The main reason why some people think Wittgenstein sucks is that his writing style is extremely difficult to understand. His works are full of complex language and abstract concepts, which require a great deal of effort and time to study.

In addition, some people also believe that Wittgenstein's ideas are too radical and脱离现实. For example, he once claimed that哲学的任务 is not to solve problems, but to clarify language and show the limits of thought. This view seems to many people to be a逃避现实的态度.

However, it should be noted that Wittgenstein's influence on philosophy cannot be ignored. His ideas have had a profound impact on many fields, such as logic, language philosophy, and cognitive science.

Therefore, whether Wittgenstein sucks or not is a matter of personal opinion. We should respect different views and try to understand his ideas objectively.

As with Hans Holbein, there are two Wittgensteins, the Younger and the Elder.

The Elder Wittgenstein endeavored to restate Aristotle when it came to explicating the relationship between reality, language, and truth. He exerted a great deal of effort in using circumlocutions in an attempt to avoid referring to the concept of isomorphism.

AC Grayling is a fervent adversary of Wittgenstein. However, he expends no energy on discrediting the Younger W. Instead, he enlists his ally in this pursuit; that is, the Elder W. As one delves deeper into this small volume, ACG's antipathy becomes blatant, even virulent. This is indeed entertaining and even somewhat informative. Nevertheless, it left me longing for someone to speak up on behalf of the poor Younger W.

It seems that the Elder Wittgenstein's ideas were perhaps more of a target for Grayling, while the Younger W was somewhat overlooked in this particular critique. It would be interesting to see if there are others who would take up the cause of defending the Younger Wittgenstein and presenting a different perspective on his work and its significance.

Overall, the relationship between these two Wittgensteins and the views of their critics, such as AC Grayling, adds an interesting layer to the study of philosophy and the exploration of different ideas about reality, language, and truth.

The text seems rather concise and perhaps a bit cryptic. It mentions that something is hard to read and its philosophy is likely hard to understand. Additionally, it comments favorably on the last chapter.

Maybe the work in question is a complex literary or philosophical piece. The difficulty in reading could stem from the author's use of advanced language, abstract concepts, or a convoluted narrative structure.

Understanding the philosophy might require a deep knowledge of the subject matter, as well as an ability to analyze and interpret the text.

The positive comment about the last chapter suggests that it might offer some sort of resolution, revelation, or particularly engaging content. It could be a standout section that ties together the themes of the work or provides a new perspective.

Overall, this short description leaves us with a sense of curiosity about the nature of the text and a desire to explore it further to uncover its hidden meanings and insights.

Wittgenstein is a highly influential philosopher, and this provides a good introduction to him.

Although it is a bit short, that is precisely what this series is designed to achieve. It offers a concise overview of Wittgenstein's ideas and contributions.

Despite its brevity, it manages to capture the essence of his work and make it accessible to a wider audience.

This introduction serves as a useful starting point for those who are interested in learning more about Wittgenstein and his philosophy.

It whets the appetite and encourages further exploration of his profound and complex thoughts.

Overall, it is a valuable addition to the literature on Wittgenstein, even if it is on the shorter side.

The Boundary of Language is the Boundary of Rationality

Language is an essential tool for human beings to communicate and express their thoughts. It allows us to convey our ideas, emotions, and experiences to others. However, language also has its limitations, and these limitations define the boundary of our rationality.

Our thoughts and concepts are shaped by the language we use. Different languages have different structures, vocabularies, and ways of expressing ideas. This means that the way we think and reason is influenced by the language we speak. For example, some languages have more words to describe colors than others, which may affect how speakers of those languages perceive and distinguish between different colors.

Moreover, language can also limit our understanding of certain concepts and ideas. Some concepts may be difficult or impossible to express in a particular language, which can make it challenging for speakers of that language to fully understand and communicate those concepts. This is why it is important to learn multiple languages and expose ourselves to different cultures and ways of thinking.

In conclusion, the boundary of language is indeed the boundary of rationality. By being aware of the limitations of our language, we can strive to expand our understanding and thinking by learning new languages and exploring different cultures. This will enable us to break free from the constraints of our own language and achieve a more comprehensive and rational view of the world.

This book serves as a prime example of why longer summaries are far superior, particularly when dealing with complex topics. There are instances where a shorter explanation leads to a longer time spent understanding, and vice versa. I used to read numerous introduction chapters (in philosophy books) about LW and believed I had a certain level of comprehension. However, this book, written by a renowned philosopher no less, makes everything significantly clearer.

Grayling penned two lengthy chapters - one on LW's thought during the time of the Tractatus and the other around the Philosophical Investigations. Both are filled with copious details, pros and cons, and a clear line of reasoning, as if one is reading LW's book directly. It's not the easiest read, but anyone should be able to persevere through it.

This book made me realize what makes LW so special. The Tractatus essentially describes how human language corresponds to reality as a construction of reality within our minds, similar to how a musical notation corresponds to real music. The Philosophical Investigations, on the other hand, is rather disjointed yet contains many profound remarks.

One that I find most interesting is his assertion that there is no such thing as a private language. Language is a system of shared symbols learned throughout a person's life. He seems to imply that there is nothing innate about it. This leads to a profound comment on Descartes' "I think, therefore I am," in which LW suggests that Descartes overlooked something in that statement. My personal existence is not the only certain thing that can be deduced from that assertion. You also have language rules! The fact that you have pre-existing language rules learned in the context of your interaction with others indicates the existence of other people! LW also engaged in some humorous debates with G.E. Moore, in which the latter attempted to ridicule Descartes by writing a satirical paper expressing Moore's conviction about the existence of things other than his own existence, such as his two hands, two legs, and so on. LW responded by stating that Moore had no need to respond to Descartes - "I think, therefore I am" is a foolish thing only said by philosophers, while others are certain of their own existence. We cannot doubt unless we are certain about other things that we consider as existing frameworks of reality. If we doubt everything, then there is no reality. Doubt in relation to knowledge is almost like hate in relation to love; it is another form of manifestation.

I appreciate LW's attitude towards philosophy in his later years, in which he regarded it as a sickness. Questions have answers, and it is his duty to clarify these questions so that people can finally recognize their errors in thinking and abandon philosophy. I'm aware of a couple of examples where promising philosophers decided against becoming philosophers after receiving such advice from LW.

Nevertheless, I still feel he was overly obsessed with language. There are legitimate philosophical problems, aren't there? Not everything becomes clear once you explain away some language misunderstandings. But perhaps he was right. There are many deeper books about language, and this introductory book has piqued my interest in them.

This is an excellent book that has had a profound impact on me.

After reading it, I have come to the realization that I now have no interest in pursuing Wittgenstein further.

This newfound lack of interest is actually quite useful for me.

It allows me to focus my attention and energy on other areas that I find more engaging and relevant to my current intellectual pursuits.

Perhaps this is a sign of growth and evolution in my thinking.

I am grateful for the insights and perspectives that this book has provided, and I look forward to exploring other works that will continue to expand my understanding and knowledge.

Overall, this book has been a valuable addition to my library and has influenced my intellectual journey in a significant way.

I truly did enjoy every single aspect of this book, with the sole exception being the explanation on the early teachings. That particular part nearly drove me to distraction.

It was rather my own misstep for choosing to pick up a book that delved into the realm of an analytical philosopher.

I had perhaps underestimated the complexity and depth that would be involved in understanding those early teachings.

However, despite this one challenging section, the rest of the book was filled with fascinating insights and thought-provoking ideas.

It made me realize that while the subject matter might be difficult at times, it is also incredibly rewarding to engage with and try to understand.

I look forward to continuing my exploration of this philosopher's work and seeing what other gems of knowledge I can uncover.

I absolutely loved it!

It was an experience that left me with a sense of pure joy and satisfaction. Every moment was filled with excitement and wonder. The details were so carefully crafted that it felt like I was part of a magical world. The colors, the sounds, everything combined to create a truly unforgettable atmosphere. I couldn't help but be completely immersed in it from start to finish. It was like a breath of fresh air in my otherwise busy life. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and amazing adventure. Whether you're a fan of this particular genre or just someone who loves to be entertained, this is definitely something you don't want to miss. I can't wait to experience it again and share it with my friends and family.