British Language Philosopher
[1889-1951]
Belonging to a wealthy Australian family, Wittgenstein was determined at an early age to examine philosophy at its most fundamental source, language.
Wittgenstein's writings can divided into three main stages:
His first stage (The Tractarian period) is illustrated in his work Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921]. Wittgenstein attempted to explain and combine Frege's apriorism and Russell's atomism in one book. In addition, Wittgenstein tried to understand the logic behind our complex language. Wittgenstein came to the conclusion that "whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent."
Wittgenstein's next stage was marked by inactivity. He did meet with the Vienna Cirle in the early thirties, and became convinced of a problem in Tractus.
His interest in mathematics peaked in the mid 1930's, and in that time he wrote a series of books that attempted to resolve any inconsistancies evident in our language. He also tried to correct problems with Tractus and introduce the "private language" argument. (The "private language" argument states that the inner workings of man do not allow for a good description of our inner experience). In Wittgenstein's opinion, words only possess utility when there is acknowledgement and understanding by others.
Wittgenstein's works include:
Tractatus Logico-Philiosphicus [1921]
Philosophical Investigations [1953]
Other sources of information
The Window-Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein [1889-1951]
Wittgenstein
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