ABSTRACT

Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) has exerted a more powerful influence on contemporary philosophy than any other twentieth-century thinker. But what is the nature of this influence and why has it proved so enduring?

In Wittgenstein's Lasting Significance, twelve contemporary philosophers explore the issues surrounding Wittgenstein's importance and relevance to modern thought. Their articles, all of which are published here for the first time, cover the entirety of Wittgenstein's major publications: the Tracatus Logico-Philosophicus, Philosophical Investigations, On Certainty and Remarks on the Foundations of Mathematics. They discuss how much originality and continuity can be found in Wittgenstein's thought, how he relates to current traditions and movements within philosophy, and what we can learn from his conceptions of language, knowledge, mathematics and logic.

The international set of contributors are renowned for their work in both Wittgenstein studies and other fields of philosophy, making Wittgenstein's Lasting Significance an important collection for anyone interested in contemporary philosophy.

chapter 1|27 pages

NONSENSE AND COSMIC EXILE

chapter 2|14 pages

WHAT IS THE TRACTATUS ABOUT?

chapter 3|56 pages

ON READING THE TRACTATUS RESOLUTELY

chapter 5|39 pages

WITTGENSTEIN AND THE LIFE OF SIGNS

chapter 6|32 pages

WITTGENSTEIN AS SOIL

chapter 7|28 pages

IMMODESTY WITHOUT MIRRORS

chapter 11|20 pages

A SECOND WAVE OF ENLIGHTENMENT