[British] Ray Monk / Zhejiang University Press /June 1, 2011
Wittgenstein: A Biography is an authoritative biography of one of the most important philosophers of the 20th century. The book traces Wittgenstein's extraordinary life in detail, using time as a clue, and shows his outstanding contribution as the founder of the philosophy of language. The book not only deeply analyzes Wittgenstein's philosophical thoughts, but also vividly depicts his personality and life experience. Wittgenstein's genius mind and his persistent pursuit of responsibility together shaped the image of this great philosopher. By reading this book, readers can have a more comprehensive understanding of Wittgenstein's philosophical system and the ideological process behind it, and thus have a deeper understanding of the profound influence of this philosopher on the contemporary intellectual world. This book is a precious record of Wittgenstein's life and thoughts, and it is a rare masterpiece for philosophy lovers and scholars.
Summary of the book "Biography of Wittgenstein"Chapter 1: Early Life1.1 Wittgenstein&39;s Family Background- The Wittgenstein family was a prominent family during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. - His father, Karl Wittgenstein, was a steel industry magnate, and his mother, Leopoldina, had a profound artistic accomplishment. 1.2 Early Education- Wittgenstein was educated under the guidance of a tutor, and dabbled in music, engineering, and philosophy. - He studied engineering at the Technical University of Berlin, and later developed a strong interest in mathematics and logic. Chapter 2: Time in Cambridge2.1 Meeting with Russell- Wittgenstein went to Trinity College, Cambridge University, and became a student of Bertrand Russell. - Russell was impressed by his logical and philosophical talents. 2.2 Discussion of Logical Philosophy- Wittgenstein mainly studied logical philosophy during this period, and his thoughts were deeply influenced by mathematical logic. Chapter 3: World War I and Philosophical Creation3.1 Thinking in World War I- Wittgenstein participated in World War I, and his experience in the war influenced his philosophical thinking. - During the war, he began to conceive the main ideas of "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus". 3.2 Completion and publication of "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus"- Wittgenstein completed "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus" and regarded it as the final summary of his philosophical thinking. - The book was prefaced by Russell and published in 1921. Chapter 4: Professor Career and Spiritual Crisis4.1 Teaching Career in Rural Austria- Wittgenstein left Cambridge University and worked as an elementary school teacher in a small town in Austria. - The teaching experience made him pay more attention to the role of language in daily communication. 4.2 Mental Problems and Solutions- Wittgenstein suffered from mental problems during this period. - These experiences of his were reflected in his later works, such as "Philosophical Investigations". Chapter 5: Teaching and Thinking in His Later Years5.1 Academic Activities Before and After World War II - Wittgenstein taught at Cambridge University and other universities before and after World War II. - His teaching activities and seminars attracted many important philosophers to participate. 5.2 Further Exploration of Language - In his later years, Wittgenstein thought more deeply about the philosophy of language. - The book "Philosophical Investigations" is the crystallization of his thoughts during this period. Summary "The Biography of Wittgenstein" records in detail the life and thoughts of this great philosopher. From his prominent family background to his lonely student life, to his profound thinking during the war, and his in-depth exploration of language and philosophy in his later years, this book comprehensively presents Wittgenstein&39;s lifelong philosophical journey and personal struggles. Ray Monk&39;s delicate and profound writing allows readers to glimpse into the inner world of this genius philosopher.
The book "Wittgenstein: Genius as Responsibility" describes in detail the life and thoughts of philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. The following are 20 wonderful sentences or paragraphs selected from the book, which are profound, unique, beautiful, wise, or creative. These sentences or paragraphs will be divided into three parts (because you asked to output them according to numbers 1, 2, and 3, but there is a lot of content here, so I will divide them into three parts to meet the format requirements): Part I 1. "Philosophy is not a doctrine, but an activity." ——This sentence reflects Wittgenstein's unique understanding of philosophy and emphasizes the practicality and activity of philosophy. 2. "The limits of the world are the limits of language." ——Wittgenstein's words reveal the close relationship between language and the cognitive world. 3. "One should remain silent about things that cannot be discussed." ——This sentence is not only a portrayal of Wittgenstein's personal character, but also reflects his understanding of the boundaries of philosophical discussion. 4. "The real discovery is that when I want to say that I can't say it, I have already said it." ——This sentence is philosophical and points out the paradox of language expression. 5. "The limits of my language mean the limits of my world." - This sentence further explains the relationship between language and cognition, and also shows Wittgenstein's profound self-reflection. 6. "Philosophy should set limits for what can be thought, and thus also for what cannot be thought." - Wittgenstein set the task and goal for philosophical research here. Part II 7. "Everything that can be said can be said clearly; what cannot be said must be kept silent." - This is the essence of Wittgenstein's early philosophical thought, reflecting the influence of logical positivism. 8. "Logic is the fixed limit of the world, and outside of logic, like outside of the world, is chaos." - Wittgenstein emphasized the fundamental role of logic in the cognitive world. 9. "If our words are meaningful, it means that our language can describe facts. And the sum of facts is the world." - This sentence explains the relationship between language, meaning and the world. 10. "My work consists of two parts: what is written here plus everything I didn't write." - Wittgenstein's words are both humorous and profound, pointing out the meaning space beyond words. 11. "My entire philosophical work is a continuous effort to understand how we can be given meaning." - This sentence reveals the core concern of Wittgenstein's philosophy. 12. "I firmly believe that the correct method of philosophy should be this: apart from what can be said, that is, the propositions of natural science - that is, something that has nothing to do with philosophy, there is nothing to say." - Wittgenstein has delimited philosophy here, and also foreshadowed the shift in his later philosophical thought. Part III 13. "One must go beyond these words before seeing the world." - Wittgenstein's words encourage people to go beyond the constraints of language and experience the world directly. 14. "Life is difficult to deal with, and philosophy is an escape from it." - This sentence expresses Wittgenstein's view on philosophy in a self-deprecating way. 15. "My work in philosophy is to clear the ground and clear away misunderstandings." - Wittgenstein describes his philosophical work here as a kind of clarification and purification. 16. "If we cannot understand a thought, then this thought does not exist for us." - This sentence emphasizes the role of the necessity of understanding in cognition. 17. "All my works, including this one, should be regarded as a joke." - Wittgenstein's words reflect his modesty and self-deprecating attitude towards his own philosophical works. 18. "In philosophy, the winner of the competition is the person who can run the slowest. Or: the last person to arrive." - This sentence reveals the slowness and difficulty of philosophical research in a humorous way. 19. "Philosophy should be a struggle against the confusing effect of language and against the use of language as magic." - Wittgenstein set the task of resisting the confusion of language for philosophy. 20. "There is only one real philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is worth experiencing is itself a way to answer the fundamental question of philosophy." - This sentence raises the ultimate question of philosophy in an extreme way, reflecting Wittgenstein's profound and unique understanding of philosophy.
Title: Ray Monk: Exploring the Life of the Genius Wittgenstein Ray Monk is a British writer and philosopher, best known for his biography of the famous philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.< In this article, we will take a closer look at this talented author from many perspectives.
Basic Personal Information Ray Monk was born in 1957 and is a British writer and philosopher.< He has a strong interest in philosophy and literature, which is fully reflected in his works.
Education and Career Background Monk was educated at Cambridge University and obtained a doctorate in philosophy.< His academic background laid a solid foundation for his later writing career.
Before becoming a professional writer, Monk served as a professor of philosophy at several universities.< Writing Career Ray Monk's writing career began in the 1980s.
His works are mainly concentrated in the field of philosophy, especially on the study of Wittgenstein.
His first biography on Wittgenstein, Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius, was published in 1990 and received wide acclaim.< Style and subject of work Monk's writing style is known for its rigor, depth and detail.
His works usually involve philosophy, biography and history of ideas.< The biography of Wittgenstein is his most famous work, showing his deep understanding of the philosopher's life and thoughts.
Personal life There is less public information about Ray Monk's personal life.< However, it can be seen from his works that he is a person who is passionate about philosophy and is committed to spreading philosophical ideas through writing.
Social influence Ray Monk's biography of Wittgenstein has a profound impact on society.< This work not only provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of Wittgenstein, but also stimulates interest in philosophy and history of ideas.
Many authoritative media and experts have given high praise to this biography.< Quotes and evaluation The New York Times Book Review praised Monk's biography as "an outstanding work about Wittgenstein, full of profound insights and love of philosophy".
In addition, Monk's biography also won the Duff Cooper Prize in the UK.< Latest developments Ray Monk continues to be active in the fields of philosophy and literature.
His latest work, Robert Oppenheimer: A Life Inside the Center, published in 2021, once again demonstrates his deep insight into complex people and ideas.< Through this article, we have a more comprehensive understanding of Ray Monk, a talented author.
His work not only provides us with valuable information about Wittgenstein, but also stimulates our interest in philosophy and the history of ideas.
Author: Li Haoran
"The Evolution of Philosophy" is an endless inquiry into the world, consciousness, and morality, written by Li Haoran. This book delves into the attitude of contemporary society towards doubts and the desire for certainty. In today's era, we often pursue quick answers and certainty too much, and ignore the value of thinking and exploration brought about by doubts and uncertainty. Through this book, Li Haoran calls on readers to re-examine their own cognitive methods and thinking patterns, bravely face the unknown and doubts, and explore the world and themselves with an open mind. This book was successfully selected into the "Humanities and Social Sciences Chinese Original Book List" in April 2024 for its profound thinking and unique insights. It is an important contribution to the field of humanities and social sciences, and it is also a masterpiece worthy of readers' in-depth reading and thinking. By reading this book, readers can embark on a new journey of thinking about philosophy, the world, and life.
Author: [US] Deborah Tynan
"Understanding Your Other Half" is a classic work on gender communication written by American writer Deborah Tynan. The book deeply analyzes the essential differences between men and women in the communication process and reveals the root causes of misunderstandings. The author uses rich cases and unique insights to help readers understand and overcome communication barriers, thereby improving interpersonal relationships, especially marital relationships. This book is highly recommended by British neurologist Oliver Sacks and has topped the New York Times bestseller list for 8 consecutive months. It has been translated into 31 languages and has become a treasure book of gender research that has saved countless readers' marriages around the world. Reading this book, you will learn how to understand the hidden meaning of your other half and establish a more harmonious relationship between the sexes.
Author: Max Weber
"Weber's Works Ⅻ: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" is a classic work by Max Weber, which deeply explores the relationship between the Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. Through detailed literature and in-depth analysis, this book reveals the important influence of the Protestant ethic on the development of capitalism, as well as the close connection between religious beliefs and social classes and economic development. Yu Yingshi highly praised Weber's academic contributions in the general preface, and Su Guoxun explained the research background and significance of the book in the preface. Kang Le briefly introduced the content of the book in the explanation. This book is not only of great value for understanding the spirit of capitalism and the Protestant ethic, but also provides us with a new perspective on the relationship between religion, society and economy. It is one of the must-read classics in the field of social sciences.
Author: Rodney Stark, William Himes Bembridge
The book "The Future of Religion", co-authored by Rodney Stark and William Himes Bembridge, challenges the view that religion will die out, which has been prevalent since the Enlightenment. The book points out that despite the obvious secularization trend in modern society, religion still has strong vitality and influence and will persist in the future society. Through in-depth research and analysis, the author explains the important role of religion in human life and how religion adapts and evolves in the face of the challenges of modern society. This book provides us with a new perspective, allowing us to re-examine the value and significance of religion. It has important reference value for understanding the relationship between religion and modern society and predicting the future development trend of religion.
Author: Benji Davies
The Storm Whale is an imaginative children's book written by Benji Davies. This book tells the story of the warm friendship between a little boy and his magical friend, a huge whale named Storm Whale. Storm Whale is not an ordinary whale, it has the magical power to cause storms. However, with the company and understanding of the little boy, Storm Whale learns how to control his power and bring beauty to the world. With its vivid illustrations and touching stories, this book conveys to readers the importance of friendship, understanding and acceptance. Whether for children or adults, this is a moving story about growth, courage and love, which is worth reading again and again. Through this book, readers will experience a unique adventure and feel the infinite fun of flying in the imaginary world with Storm Whale.