Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus is the only book-length work published by the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein in his lifetime. Originally published in German in 1921 as Logisch-Philosophische Abhandlung, when its author was just 32, it is now widely considered one of the most important philosophical works of the twentieth century. The Latin title was originally suggested by G. E. Moore, and is a homage to Tractatus Theologico-Politicus by Benedictus Spinoza. Wittgenstein´s 'notorious' literary style, his utterly sober and succinct manner of expressing himself, was moulded by the philosophical prose of the great German logician and philosopher Gottlob Frege.

Related Topics:
Philosopher - Ludwig Wittgenstein - German - 1921 - Twentieth century - G. E. Moore - Tractatus Theologico-Politicus - Benedictus Spinoza - Gottlob Frege

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The slim volume (fewer than eighty pages) comprises a system of short, utterances, numbered 1, 1.1, 1.11, 1.12, etc., through to 7, so that 1.1 is a comment on or elaboration of 1, 1.11 and 1.12 comment on 1.1, and so forth, to demonstrate their nested interrelations. It sets forth on an ambitious project to identify the relationship between language and reality, and to define the limits of philosophy by articulating ??the conditions for a logically perfect language.? (Russell, p. 8 in the C. K. Ogden Translation) The goal was a philosophical system that would complete Bertrand Russell's early philosophy of "logical atomism."

Related Topics:
Bertrand Russell - Logical atomism

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The ending of the book is a bit surprising, and comes to some rather drastic conclusions regarding philosophy. Specifically, it suggests that any discussion of metaphysics lies outside the realm of sense, and that the only proper method of philosophy is the abandonment of philosophy for the natural sciences.

Related Topics:
Metaphysics - Sense - Abandonment - Natural sciences

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Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus was influential, chiefly amongst the logical positivists, but it has stimulated many other philosophers.

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