Helpful Score: 1
Reading this book was one of the best-spent 90 minutes of my life. Paul Strathern explains how Wittgenstein developed his thinking, leading you down the same path. By the end of the book, you not only know what Wittgenstein thought but why. This is pretty common with his [Philosopher] in 90 Minutes series, so why is this one so good?
Because after reading it, you believe that philosophy has devolved into a battle of dictionaries.
One of the most startling points Strathern makes is that, while Wittgenstein failed to destroy philosophy with his logic, his writings pushed philosophy over the edge. These days we spend hours and hours talking about definitions and arguing about what words mean, and we spend almost no time actually talking about concepts. We take classes on ethics so we can learn all the right terminology, but we don't spend any time practicing (as in, learning through practice) ethics.
See? My point is proven. The last paragraph has a definition thrown in so that we can all agree on the concept. There is no feeling in philosophy anymore; it's all been pared down a shallow and meaningless science. At least that's how I feel after reading Strathern's Wittgenstein in 90 Minutes.
Because after reading it, you believe that philosophy has devolved into a battle of dictionaries.
One of the most startling points Strathern makes is that, while Wittgenstein failed to destroy philosophy with his logic, his writings pushed philosophy over the edge. These days we spend hours and hours talking about definitions and arguing about what words mean, and we spend almost no time actually talking about concepts. We take classes on ethics so we can learn all the right terminology, but we don't spend any time practicing (as in, learning through practice) ethics.
See? My point is proven. The last paragraph has a definition thrown in so that we can all agree on the concept. There is no feeling in philosophy anymore; it's all been pared down a shallow and meaningless science. At least that's how I feel after reading Strathern's Wittgenstein in 90 Minutes.
