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.

Editions

The Tractatus is the English translation of

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Logisch-Philosophische Abhandlung, Wilhelm Ostwald (ed.), Annalen der Naturphilosophie, 14 (1921)

Two notable English translations of the Tractatus have appeared in print, both include the introduction by Russell:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1. The C. K. Odgen translation (1922), prepared with assistance from G. E. Moore, F. P. Ramsey, and Wittgenstein himself.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Routledge, ISBN 041505186X - parallel edition including the German text on the facing page to the English text.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dover, ISBN 0486404455

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2. A translation by David Pears and Brian McGuinness (1961, revised 1974).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Routledge, ISBN 0415254086, paperback; ISBN 0415255627, hardback.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~