Wittgenstein

Spanning Ludwig Wittgenstein's entire career, from his student days at Cambridge to the entries inserted into a notebook two days before his death, this is an indispensable guide to a philosopher described by Bertrand Russell as "the most perfect example of genius I have ever known." Combining careful organization with a highly readable style, eminent scholar Avrum Stroll outlines the unconventional backdrop to Wittgenstein's great philosophical achievements: his dramatic change of professions, his eccentric lifestyle, and his privileged background. Lively and helpful analogies punctuate this crisp and straightforward analysis of the philosopher's "three great ideas, " revealing the dramatic reversals of opinion that characterized Wittgenstein's career, and providing a penetrating insight into the way in which language shapes our world. As a comprehensive survey of Wittgenstein's unique intellect and a thought-provoking account of the realm where science and philosophy meet, this perceptive study will prove stimulating reading for students, scholars, and newcomers alike.