Ludwig Wittgenstein

(April 26, 1889 — April 29, 1951)

Widely considered to have had a deep impact on the practice and theory of analytic philosophy, critics claim this is principally due to the fact that no one has any genuine idea regarding what Wittgenstein was actually saying. Sceptics argue his philosophy lives on today because he is quotable, looked, and sounded ‘cool’, and was generally angry enough not to warrant face-to-face objections, a quality his present-day followers often acquire.

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Written By: Edward Grefenstette

Created: 31st January, 2008 | Last Updated: —

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(Image of Ludwig Wittgenstein is copyright of the original owner. Used under Fair Use laws.)

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A photo of Ludwig Wittgenstein

Wittgenstein took a lot of drugs.

Stats

  • Main Contributions:

    Reducing everything that can be said to logic and then destroying philosophy.

  • Quotation:

    “My aim is: to teach you to pass from a piece of disguised nonsense to something that is patent nonsense.”

  • Key Areas:

    Philosophy of Language, Mind, Epistemology, Logic, (Anti-)Metaphysics.

  • Annoying Habits:

    Slapping forehead, slapping Popper, talking in German to an English-speaking audience, talking in English to an English-speaking audience.

  • Nicknames:

    Witters, PokerBoy

Top Trumps

  • Beard: 0
  • Fame: 5
  • Logic: 5
  • Readability: 1
  • Contribution: 5

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