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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
The point -------> +
Me: :)
That was a weird language game mister Ludwig...
Me: :)
That was a weird language game mister Ludwig...
Every philosopher must have this book on their shelf, in their bag or in their hand...
I can see why this is such an influential work of philosophy: it is not every day that an individual attempts to disassemble an entire field of human endeavour and thought. This is, in some ways, the philosophical equivalent of the Dada movement in art that sought to emphasize the nonsense of everything. The core of Wittgenstein's argument is essentially that philosophy can only say something of significance outside of formal logic, as anything logical is a tautology, and therefore says nothing of substance.
And the final line... Well... This book does not end with without controversy.
And the final line... Well... This book does not end with without controversy.
This is the only text which got published during his lifetime. The text comprises of 7 propositions extending over 90 pages with logical comments and subcomments for propositions. Structure gives more of a feeling of reading Math dissertation work rather a philosophical one.
The seminal theme which I think is the inquiry of how traditional philosophy and traditional solutions arise out of ignorance of the principal uses of symbolism and out of misuse and misunderstanding of the language. Thus he comes with the conditions on which a logically perfect language could function. There's some sort of underlying structure for thought and for its communication via language (a proposition least for the ideal perfect ones in theory)
Thought and the nature of the world in itself share a structure confined within the laws of logic and geometry (spatially and temporally) he proposes.
4.002 Man possesses the capacity of constructing languages, in which every sense can be expressed, without having an idea how and what each word means - just as one speaks without knowing how the single sounds are produced.
More references and citations from Kantian frameworks (like priori, intuitions and concepts) are also taken into account and incorporated. We have thoughts and sometimes we have the urge to convey the manifested feelings and experiences to the other person. There the limitation starts Ludwig says that the idea and form one has about a particular thing may not exactly the same with prepositions held by the other. Pardon me, I don't have the skillset to put it the way he did for he used first 40 pages to acquaint with numerous glossaries such as atomic facts, structure, constituents, propositions, forms, signs, names, object and so it goes.
He holds logic and natural science for the rescue to get a plausible solution nevertheless he conveys (rather very late in the book) that they have their limitations too. This book is taken for a Positivist's approach which is quite baffling personally.
6.371 The whole modern conception of the world is founded on the illusion that the so-called laws of nature are the explanations of natural phenomena.
This Tractatus is the weirdest work of Philosophy I've ever read. They say this is the most misunderstood text in the Western philosophical world of 20th century. From biographical background, I came to know that Wittgenstein was so satisfied with having written this to the extent he felt that there's no more philosophical conundrums left to analyze and solve regarding the language and our forms of expression.
All being said, clearly this book is not for a moment of one sitting kind of bulk reading. More we read more it might makes sense. Sense in the sense of finding validation of being true or false to the experiences and thoughts. Every proposition of our everyday understanding of 'making sense' and 'non-sense' are all confined with the logical possibilities, he says. So I guess that makes sense.
5.6 The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.
I certainly have this conundrum for a long while that distorted use and abuse of language is deeply uprooted with the social / cultural conditioning. Maybe it's not possible for everyone of us to understand the limits of using the language in the same way. Yet I may have to explore more on this topic of expression, perception of thought and the world. Journey continues yet again.
7 Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.
The seminal theme which I think is the inquiry of how traditional philosophy and traditional solutions arise out of ignorance of the principal uses of symbolism and out of misuse and misunderstanding of the language. Thus he comes with the conditions on which a logically perfect language could function. There's some sort of underlying structure for thought and for its communication via language (a proposition least for the ideal perfect ones in theory)
Thought and the nature of the world in itself share a structure confined within the laws of logic and geometry (spatially and temporally) he proposes.
4.002 Man possesses the capacity of constructing languages, in which every sense can be expressed, without having an idea how and what each word means - just as one speaks without knowing how the single sounds are produced.
More references and citations from Kantian frameworks (like priori, intuitions and concepts) are also taken into account and incorporated. We have thoughts and sometimes we have the urge to convey the manifested feelings and experiences to the other person. There the limitation starts Ludwig says that the idea and form one has about a particular thing may not exactly the same with prepositions held by the other. Pardon me, I don't have the skillset to put it the way he did for he used first 40 pages to acquaint with numerous glossaries such as atomic facts, structure, constituents, propositions, forms, signs, names, object and so it goes.
He holds logic and natural science for the rescue to get a plausible solution nevertheless he conveys (rather very late in the book) that they have their limitations too. This book is taken for a Positivist's approach which is quite baffling personally.
6.371 The whole modern conception of the world is founded on the illusion that the so-called laws of nature are the explanations of natural phenomena.
This Tractatus is the weirdest work of Philosophy I've ever read. They say this is the most misunderstood text in the Western philosophical world of 20th century. From biographical background, I came to know that Wittgenstein was so satisfied with having written this to the extent he felt that there's no more philosophical conundrums left to analyze and solve regarding the language and our forms of expression.
All being said, clearly this book is not for a moment of one sitting kind of bulk reading. More we read more it might makes sense. Sense in the sense of finding validation of being true or false to the experiences and thoughts. Every proposition of our everyday understanding of 'making sense' and 'non-sense' are all confined with the logical possibilities, he says. So I guess that makes sense.
5.6 The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.
I certainly have this conundrum for a long while that distorted use and abuse of language is deeply uprooted with the social / cultural conditioning. Maybe it's not possible for everyone of us to understand the limits of using the language in the same way. Yet I may have to explore more on this topic of expression, perception of thought and the world. Journey continues yet again.
7 Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus is a philosophical handgrenade, compact yet earth-shattering. This new translation by Alexander Booth strips away the cobwebs, revealing the raw power of a work that's been setting minds ablaze for a century.
Picture a book that aims to solve all of philosophy's problems in one fell swoop. Ambitious? Absolutely. Successful? Well, that's where things get interesting. Wittgenstein's approach is like watching a master locksmith at work—he doesn't just tackle philosophical quandaries; he unpicks the very language we use to formulate them.
The Tractatus is structured like a logical Russian doll, each proposition nestled within the next. It's a dizzying read, make no mistake. Wittgenstein's prose is as dense as a black hole and about as easy to escape. You'll find yourself circling back, re-reading, scratching your head—and then, suddenly, the clouds part and you're staring at the philosophical equivalent of the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
At its heart lies the picture theory of language—a concept so audacious it's like claiming you've invented a new primary colour. Wittgenstein posits that propositions are logical pictures of facts, effectively creating a blueprint for reality itself. It's the kind of idea that makes you want to lie down in a dark room and contemplate the nature of existence.
Booth's translation is a godsend, transforming Wittgenstein's notoriously knotty German into something approaching clarity. It's still a tough nut to crack, but at least now you're not trying to open it with your teeth.
Nevertheless, there are some problems with the Tractatus, despite its genius. Wittgenstein has a maddening habit of dropping philosophical bombshells and then sauntering off, leaving us, the reader, to deal with the fallout. It's like being handed the keys to the universe, only to find the instruction manual is written in hieroglyphics.
The book's structure, while ingenious, can feel like navigating a maze designed by M.C. Escher. You might find yourself ping-ponging between propositions, desperately trying to connect the dots. It's exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure.
Despite these quirks—or perhaps because of them—the Tractatus remains a philosophical heavyweight champion. It doesn't just challenge your ideas; it challenges the very way you think about thinking. Reading it is like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded while someone explains quantum mechanics—frustrating, mind-bending, but ultimately transformative.
In the grand arena of philosophy, the Tractatus stands alone. Kant might offer more breadth, Nietzsche more poetry, but Wittgenstein brings a laser-focused intensity that's unmatched. It's the philosophical equivalent of a precision-guided missile, homing in on the fundamental nature of language, logic, and reality.
Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus: The New Translation is an intellectual rollercoaster. It's not for the faint-hearted or those seeking easy answers. But for the brave souls willing to grapple with the big questions, it's an exhilarating journey to the outer limits of human thought. Just don't be surprised if you emerge from its pages feeling like you've just arm-wrestled with the concept of existence itself—and possibly lost.
You know it’s good philosophy when you have to watch YouTube videos from college professors the entire time you are reading to make sense of it.
Short and dense. Regarding all of existence and the ability or inability to make sense of what is encountered there. I’m not usually one to read analytical philosophy, but this has been a lot of fun to try and decipher. I’m sure it will be something I have to come back to later with more tools in my toolkit.
Short and dense. Regarding all of existence and the ability or inability to make sense of what is encountered there. I’m not usually one to read analytical philosophy, but this has been a lot of fun to try and decipher. I’m sure it will be something I have to come back to later with more tools in my toolkit.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
medium-paced