Wittgenstein's 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus': A Reader's Guide

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Wittgenstein's Tractatus - the only book he actually published within his lifetime - was an immensely important work which changed the direction of philosophy in the first half of the twentieth century. Highlighting the importance of the nature of language in philosophy and the problematic nature of metaphysics, it strongly influenced the work of Russell, the Vienna Circle and A. J. Ayer. An understanding of the ideas in the Tractatus is essential to fully grasp Wittgenstein's remarkable thought. In Wittgenstein's 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus': A Reader's Guide, Roger White provides a thorough account of the philosophical and historical context of Wittgenstein's work. The book provides a detailed outline of the themes and structure of the text, guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of this remarkable text. White goes on to explore the reception and influence of the work and offers a detailed guide to further reading. This is the ideal companion to study of this hugely important philosophical work.

Reviews

"It is relatively easy to cobble together an interpretation of the Tractatus from scattered bits of Wittgenstein's book, much harder to stick to the words on the page and figure out the point of it all. All too often commentators dodge around, close their eyes to difficulties, and quote passages without explanation. But not Roger White. He looks closely at the text, refrains from putting words into Wittgenstein's mouth and does his level best to clarify what is going on There is no trimming to fit a preconceived idea or the latest fad, just a sustained effort to deal with Wittgenstein's masterpiece on its own terms and to bring it alive. White has thought long and hard about the Tractatus, and one never feels in anything less than excellent hands. Better still I fancy he captures the spirit of Wittgenstein as well as the letter of his text. Much is left to the reader and some of the discussion requires close attention, but anyone who perseveres, novice or expert, will find the effort more than worthwhile." -Andrew Lugg, Philosophy in Review

Author Bio

Roger M. White is Lecturer is Philosophy at the University of Leeds, UK, where he has taught on the Tractatus for many years. He translated Wittgenstein's Philosophical Remarks for Blackwell and has written numerous articles on Wittgenstein and early analytic philosophy.