A review by steveinadelaide
Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein

challenging informative slow-paced

4.0

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.