Description: Elucidating the Tractatus by Marie McGinn Marie McGinn provides a clear and original interpretation of Wittgensteins Tractatus and of its relation to Wittgensteins later work. It is one of the most famous works of early analytic philosophy, the interpretation of which has always been a matter for controversy and is currently the focus of considerable philosophical debate. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Discussion of Wittgensteins Tractatus is currently dominated by two opposing interpretations of the work: a metaphysical or realist reading and the resolute reading of Diamond and Conant. Marie McGinns principal aim in this book is to develop an alternative interpretative line, which rejects the idea, central to the metaphysical reading, that Wittgenstein sets out to ground the logic of our language in features of an independently constituted reality,but which allows that he aims to provide positive philosophical insights into how language functions. McGinn takes as a guiding principle the idea that we should see Wittgensteins earlywork as an attempt to eschew philosophical theory and to allow language itself to reveal how it functions. By this account, the aim of the work is to elucidate what language itself makes clear, namely, what is essential to its capacity to express thoughts that are true or false. However, the early Wittgenstein undertakes this descriptive project in the grip of a set of preconceptions concerning the essence of language that determine both how he conceives the problem and the approach he takes tothe task of clarification. Nevertheless, the Tractatus contains philosophical insights, achieved despite his early preconceptions, that form the foundation of his later philosophy.The anti-metaphysical interpretation that is presented includes a novel reading of the problematic opening sections of the Tractatus, in which the apparently metaphysical status of Wittgensteins remarks is shown to be an illusion. The book includes a discussion of the philosophical background to the Tractatus, a comprehensive interpretation of Wittgensteins early views of logic and language, and an interpretation of the remarks on solipsism. The finalchapter is a discussion of the relation between the early and the later philosophy that articulates the fundamental shift in Wittgensteins approach to the task of understanding how language functions and reveal thestill more fundamental continuity in his conception of his philosophical task. Author Biography Marie McGinn is Professor Emeritus at the University of York. Table of Contents 1: The Single Great Problem2: Wittgensteins Critique of Frege and Russell 1: Propositions with Sense3: Wittgensteins Critique of Frege and Russell 2: The Propositions Of Logic4: Pictures5: Propositions6: The Opening of the Tractatus7: Variables and Formal Concepts8: Molecular Propositions9: Inference and Operations10: Logic and the General Form of a Proposition11: Logic and Solipsism12: Turning the Examination Round Review `Review from previous edition A highly interesting contribution to the debate on Wittgensteins philosophy... [McGinn] has done an important job in showing how a reading that accepts as its starting point Diamonds critique of the traditional interpretation is perfectly capable indeed, well positioned to describe the Tractatus as a contribution to logic and the philosophy of logic... with respect to its elucidation of the Tractatus views on logic, McGinnsbook is pretty much the book on Wittgensteins early philosophy I always wanted to read as a student, but was never able to find... Happily, the book did not come too late for me, and it is certainly notonly recommended reading for students. Not only did I learn a great deal from this book, but reading it was also a pleasure.Oskari Kuusela, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews`There is much to like and admire about the way in which McGinn carries out [her] interpretation...[A] systematic account...which has much to recommend it.Peter Hylton, Times Literary Supplement`an excellent and highly original contribution ... one that it is hard to imagine being surpassed anytime soon. It makes for an illuminating and enjoyable read.Edmund Dain, International Journal of Philosophical Studies Promotional A clear and original interpretation of Wittgensteins Tractatus and of its relation to Wittgensteins later work Long Description Discussion of Wittgensteins Tractatus is currently dominated by two opposing interpretations of the work: a metaphysical or realist reading and the resolute reading of Diamond and Conant. Marie McGinns principal aim in this book is to develop an alternative interpretative line, which rejects the idea, central to the metaphysical reading, that Wittgenstein sets out to ground the logic of our language in features of an independently constituted reality,but which allows that he aims to provide positive philosophical insights into how language functions. McGinn takes as a guiding principle the idea that we should see Wittgensteins early work as an attempt to eschew philosophical theory and to allow language itself to reveal how itfunctions. By this account, the aim of the work is to elucidate what language itself makes clear, namely, what is essential to its capacity to express thoughts that are true or false. However, the early Wittgenstein undertakes this descriptive project in the grip of a set of preconceptions concerning the essence of language that determine both how he conceives the problem and the approach he takes to the task of clarification. Nevertheless, the Tractatus contains philosophicalinsights, achieved despite his early preconceptions, that form the foundation of his later philosophy. The anti-metaphysical interpretation that is presented includes a novel reading of the problematic opening sections of the Tractatus, in which the apparently metaphysical status ofWittgensteins remarks is shown to be an illusion. The book includes a discussion of the philosophical background to the Tractatus, a comprehensive interpretation of Wittgensteins early views of logic and language, and an interpretation of the remarks on solipsism. The final chapter is a discussion of the relation between the early and the later philosophy that articulates the fundamental shift in Wittgensteins approach to the task of understanding how language functions and revealthe still more fundamental continuity in his conception of his philosophical task. Review Text `Review from previous edition A highly interesting contribution to the debate on Wittgensteins philosophy... [McGinn] has done an important job in showing how a reading that accepts as its starting point Diamonds critique of the traditional interpretation is perfectly capable indeed, well positioned to describe the Tractatus as a contribution to logic and the philosophy of logic... with respect to its elucidation of the Tractatus views on logic, McGinnsbook is pretty much the book on Wittgensteins early philosophy I always wanted to read as a student, but was never able to find... Happily, the book did not come too late for me, and it is certainly not only recommended reading for students. Not only did I learn a great deal from this book, but readingit was also a pleasure. Oskari Kuusela, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews`There is much to like and admire about the way in which McGinn carries out [her] interpretation...[A] systematic account...which has much to recommend it. Peter Hylton, Times Literary Supplement`an excellent and highly original contribution ... one that it is hard to imagine being surpassed anytime soon. It makes for an illuminating and enjoyable read.Edmund Dain, International Journal of Philosophical Studies Review Quote "There is much to like and admire about the way in which McGinn carries out [her] interpretation...[A] systematic account...which has much to recommend it." --Peter Hylton, Times Literary Supplement Feature A third way in Wittgenstein studiesOffers resolution of notorious problems of interpretationA significant advance in a contentious debate Details ISBN0199568243 Author Marie McGinn Publisher Oxford University Press Year 2009 ISBN-10 0199568243 ISBN-13 9780199568246 Format Paperback Imprint Oxford University Press Subtitle Wittgensteins Early Philosophy of Logic and Language Place of Publication Oxford Country of Publication United Kingdom DEWEY 192 Language English Media Book Short Title ELUCIDATING THE TRACTATUS Pages 332 Affiliation University of York UK Release Date 2009-08-06 Publication Date 2009-08-06 AU Release Date 2009-08-06 NZ Release Date 2009-08-06 Alternative 9780199244447 Audience Undergraduate We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. 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Book Title: Elucidating the Tractatus: Wittgenstein's Early Philosophy of Logic and Language
Item Height: 234mm
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Author: Marie Mcginn
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Topic: Popular Philosophy
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication Year: 2009
Item Weight: 522g
Number of Pages: 332 Pages
