Wittgenstein: A Very Short Introduction

Prof. Grayling was a big help to me in this book. I have been reading Wittgenstein's Tractatus, and I have found it to be very difficult. This is the product of Wittgenstein's efforts when young, following intense work with Bertrand Russell, and influenced by Frege's work in logic, and also following a very difficult experience as a soldier in WWI. I thought that Prof. Grayling's very clear ideas about the Tractatus were encouraging, and I intend to go back and read the Tractatus once again. This book on Wittgenstein first gives a short but illuminating biography of Wittgenstein before discussing the Tractatus. Following his presentation on the Tractatus, Prof. Grayling makes some critical remarks about this early work of Wittgenstein, and then launches into a discussion of Wittgenstein's later more evolved thinking as he progressed beyond the Tractatus (although at one point in Wittgenstein's life, he felt he had solved all the major problems in philosophy to his satisfaction with the writing of the Tractatus). Following a discussion of Wittgenstein's later work, Prof. Grayling criticizes this later work, and tries to put Wittgenstein's place in philosophy in some perspective. Wittgenstein was a stunningly original thinker, but he left his work in a position where a lot of it is difficult to interpret and ambiguous. In addition, I have found the Tractatus to be an obscure and esoteric work. Prof. Grayling argues that Wittgenstein's ultimate place in philosophy is quite uncertain, despite the depth of his insights. I feel that for a very short book, Prof. Grayling's account of Wittgenstein's work is very helpful as a whole, and he has an interesting perspective that I think will help me to understand Wittgenstein's writings better. I think this is a good book for someone like me starting a study of Wittgenstein's work.

Compared to other introductory books on Wittgenstein, this is no doubt well written and very readable. If anyone without a background in philosophy is interested in Wittgenstein, this book is a good starting point. However, I don't quite agree with some of the the author's criticisms of Wittgenstein.

The criteria for what make these sorts of books successful is whether they can cover a significant amount of information in a brief enough form and still be comprehensible. By this yardstick, I'd say that *Wittgenstein: A Very Short Introduction* does, indeed succeed.A little biographical info on Ludwig, a section each on his early and later work, some critical remarks, and, a final summation...then you're sent off on your own to pursue further study--or not, as you choose.Grayling also successfully walks that dangerous tightrope between rendering the life's work of a notoriously difficult philosopher into readily digestible bite-sized chunks for the reasonably intelligent adult...and pureeing them into the intellectual equivalent of babyfood.Grayling is no big fan of Wittgenstein, certainly no fawning apostle, as is made clear in his closing remarks (in which he doubts whether history will even regard W as a major philosopher), if it isn't already clear to the reader by the critical challenges Grayling makes to W's philosophy earlier in this book.However, I don't think Grayling's lack of adulation gets in the way of the book's general purpose (to inform the reader of what Wittgenstein had to say); in fact, if anything, I found Grayling's objections stimulating, if, by the way, largely unpersuasive. In any event, they encourage the reader's active engagement with the ideas under discussion, which is something to be applauded; after all, philosophy should be engaging; ideas should stimulate, thought should matter enough to be reason for debate...or what's the point?So there you have it. A nice, neat, very (very) short (120-pages in the used edition I have) introduction to Ludwig Wittgenstein. If you're interested in this brainy dude, I say go for it. This book is a good place to start.

Interesting short biography of Wittgenstein putting his life into perspective with his work. He was a complex personality & figure. Brief central ideas of his in the logic realm are set forward. This book is very helpful to have if you are just beginning the study of Wittgenstein and his works. Wittgenstein was a staunch intellectual with an introverted, torn personal background. Initially from a well to do German family with plenty of money he later led life almost as a hermit becoming isolated and depressed much of the time. He received some recognition from Bertrand Russell at Cambridge who promoted his Tractatus, helping him later to obtain a position at Cambridge as a Lecturer in Philosophy. Because of unhappiness and personality differences he prematurely resigned that position in the UK. He worked for a while in building and construction, as well as in architecture. The sad news really is he did not receive the well deserved praise and success of his works. Nor did Wittgenstein become a successful academic in his lifetime. Perhaps to put his work in perspective, one should have Russell's books, volume 1 of Principia Mathematica by Whitehead, and Frege's Introduction to Logic to begin to tackle the complex thought laced throughout Tractatus Logico Philosophicus. On Certainty is useful to look at for Wittgenstein's viewpoints on propositions and truth. This book is definitely helpful for the Philosophy student.

Simple and captivating, the book provides the readers with the initial coordinates to venture oneself safely into the obscure, and sometimes astruse, although fascinating W.’s prose.

this is the best introduction to wittgenstein'sthought - A C Grayling has nailed it - anyone interested in wittgenstein's philosophy should not overlook this little gem

great book and service

Very informative book with clear and interesting information.A great way to get into a complex subject.I recommend it.

Before reading this book i've come across Wittgenstein references several times and wanted to find out more about his works. This book mainly covers his theory of language and how it changed throughout his life. It also has an interesting description of the background in which Wittgenstein worked.I would recommend this book as short and accessible introduction to Wittgenstein works.