The Realistic Spirit: Wittgenstein, Philosophy, and the Mind

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The realistic spirit, a non-metaphysical approach to philosophical thought concerned with the character of philosophy itself, informs all of the discussions in these essays. This text explains Wittgenstein's notoriously elusive later writings, explores the background to his thought in the work of Frege and discusses ethics in a way that reflects his influence. The author's reading of Wittgenstein challenges currently accepted interpretations and shows what it means to look without mythology at the coherence, commitments and connections that are distinctive of the mind.

Reviews

"This is the most important book on Wittgenstein in over a decade, but it is also much more than that. These essays range widely over issues in the philosophy of language, ethics, and literature and they illuminate everything they touch. They show the full range and power of one of the best philosophical minds I know." --Hillary Putnam, Harvard University "To my mind, Diamond, more than any other commentator, conveys an accurate sense of Wittgenstein's methods and goals in philosophy. Her essays illuminating the complicated subtle relationships between the earlier and later works are the best in the field." --Thomas Ricketts, University of Pennsylvania

Author Bio

Cora Diamond is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Virginia.