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Wittgenstein

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For the philosopher or the fan of philosophical gossip, A. J. Ayer (of logical positivism fame) offers a biography of the eccentric philosophical genius Ludwig Wittgenstein. The author begins with a chapter providing a complete biographical sketch of Wittgenstein, and does not spare us any of his eccentricities. The author traces the life of this individual from his early interest in aeronautics and mathematics to his study at Cambridge under Bertrand Russell to the development of his own thought. Ayer explains how Wittgenstein believed himself to have addressed all philosophical questions in his Tractatus (and mentions the debt W. owes to Schopenhauer, and thereby Kant), and then the period in which W. left philosophy and became a gardener, nearly a monk, and a school teacher. Ayer then deals with the later Wittgenstein, his thoughts on psychology, the foundations of mathematics, language games, and religion. Ayer concludes that Wittgenstein is to be ranked only behind Russell as the greatest philosopher of the twentieth century.
Overall this book provides much of interest in the philosophical thought of Wittgenstein, and also gives many anecdotes of his nearly manic disposition and uncanny character. An important biography of a truly great philosopher.

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Availability

171010323

192 AYE w

Z. HANDIMAN

Available

Detail Information

Series Title

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Call Number

192 AYE w

Publisher

New York : Random House., 1985

Collation

ix, 155p.; 25 cm.

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

0-394-54347-5

Classification

192

Content Type

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Media Type

-

Carrier Type

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Edition

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Subject(s)

HUMAN NATURE

Specific Detail Info

j/v

Statement of Responsibility

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