Introducing Wittgenstein

by John Heaton and Judy Groves

Book Overview

A consummate graphic guide, described as 'warm, witty and wise' by Jonathan Ree, to an enigmatic master of twentieth-century philosophy. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1840460709
• ISBN13: 9781840460704
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Totem Books
• Length: 175 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Fun and Informative

This was my first experience with the "Introducing..." series of books (of which there are many). It was a very enjoyable read, with a ton of illustrative graphics on every page; there are quotations from Wittgenstein scattered throughout, though I would have wanted perhaps a few more than the author chose to include; and it's very concise and informative, ranging from the biographical to the philosophical to the interplay of the two and how they informed each other, from influences to major works, etc. Wittgenstein's major works are represented here: Tractatus Logico Philosophicus, Philosophical Investigations, On Certainty, etc. The Blue Book and the Brown Book are not mentioned, if I recall correctly, but, since I am just being introduced to the philosopher here, I do not know if that's a good or a bad thing. Perhaps someone can comment on my review to clarify this point to a Wittgenstein newcomer. :) The author presents the material very clearly and succinctly, but there were several times when I wasn't sure if it was the author's point of view that was being articulated or Wittgenstein's. Quotations from Wittgenstein's journals early on in the book gave me hope that the rest of the book would follow suit, using quotes extensively when articulating something specifically written or thought by Wittgenstein, but it did not do this regularly, and I think the book suffers slightly for it. I still give the book 4/5 Stars, because it does such a great job at covering all the bases: biography, philosophy, history, influences, major works, etc. I repeat, though, the one thing this book really needs more of is quotes from the author, like in the "How to Read..." series, which I might read now that I have read this book. I have read both How to Read Heidegger and How to Read Derrida, both of which are great primers for the respective authors, so I expect nothing less from them at this point. Additionally, the connection between Wittgenstein and Derrida seems obvious to me, just from reading this small primer, so I might continue an investigation there too, something I wish the author had done, but in a book meant as a basic intro, I don't hold it against them in any way. In conclusion, I definitely recommend this book, though I might recommend the How to Read series more, once I've read that one as well. Happy reading!

A good place to begin...

Wittgenstein the man, and Wittgenstein's philosophy has been the focus of modern thinker's for two generations. His enigmatic logic and original thoughts on the nature of language, for example, has influenced many disciplines across the spectrum, including anthropology, cultural studies and literary theory. Wittgenstein has also been called the quintessential icon of Modernism, the most original thinker since Plato, yet has been the most misunderstood philosopher in the history of ideas. If you want to understand his philosophy, where do you start? This study guide, written clearly by John Heaton, in my opinion, is a good place to begin. Introducing Wittgenstein combines biographical information about the man and his thoughts. The only book to be published by Wittgenstein in his lifetime was his Tractatus Logico- Philosophicus, a mere seventy-page treatise that confounded and inspired the leading minds of his generation. The book begins with the line, "The world is all that is the case." ending with the line, "What we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence." As Heaton proposes, "...the last sentence assumes that only factual propositions are meaningful, so the world consists only in facts...there is a distinction between what can be -said- and what can only be -shown- is being developed organically" (P. 30) The Tractatus was not intended to be an easy study. In fact in the Preface, Wittgenstein wrote, "Its purpose would be achieved if it gave pleasure to one person who read and understood it." Introducing Wittgenstein moves on from the Tractatus touching on the changes of the man's thought about the nature of language, logic, mathematics, religion, art and culture, up to the end of his life. Heaton makes a brave and successful attempt to illustrate the many at times complex ideas in Wittgenstein's later work, Philosophical Investigations, which most academics today believe is the more developed and refined expressions of his philosophy. This book does a fine job of explaining Wittgenstein's thought in a clear and accessible manner and tone; although superficial, touching only the surfaces, as it is an introduction, it is an appropriate place to begin.

Introducing Wittgenstein

This is the second book I've read in the "Introducing..." series and the first I've had a positive experience with. Employing graphics and text (with a little more emphasis on the graphics) INTRODUCING WITTGENSTEIN provided me with enough information to decide whether I wanted to proceed from introduction to a deeper acquaintance. The first half of the book is a short biography of Wittgenstein, the second a truncated and abbreviated synopsis of his philosophy. The looser graphic format allows the authors to avoid some of the limitations of the more traditional, text-only biography. They aren't tied to a linear narrative. Most important, perhaps, is that the graphics make an intimidating subject seem more approachable. The second half of the book deals with Wittgenstein's philosophy. Although it doesn't explain Wittgenstein's philosophy (I'm afraid you'd have to go to the source material for that) it does outline Wittgenstein's area of interest - thought and language, non-existential truths, doubt and certainty. After reading this, do I know what Wittgenstein was talking about? Yes and no. I don't understand his philosophy, but that wasn't quite the point of this book. I have a rough idea of his work, and the authors include an annotated bibliography if I want to continue on. Introduction successful.

Useful introduction that will help me find more if I need it

I have no interest in spending a month figuring out exactly what Wittgenstein *really* meant and wrote, but I do need to be able to read a text that mentions "dasein" or "Wittgenstein's view of technology", for instance, without stumbling. This introduction was amusingly written and gave me enough of an outline that next time I come across Wittgensteinian references I'll know where to look for more detail if I need it.In general I quite like the comic style - so refreshing compared to many academic texts which seem to relish being as abtrusely and boringly presented as possible - sometimes I thought the illustrator was thinning out the paint a bit much. The same illustrations are mixed and remixed till I was thoroughly sick of that same old drawing of Wittgenstein's face.