Portraits of Wittgenstein: Abridged Edition

Description

Portraits of Wittgenstein is a major collection of memoirs and reflections on one of the most influential and yet elusive personalities in the history of modern philosophy, Ludwig Wittgenstein. Featuring a wealth of illuminating and profound insights into Wittgenstein's extraordinary life, this unique collection reveals Wittgenstein's character and power of personality more vividly and comprehensively than ever before. With portraits from more than 50 figures, Portraits of Wittgenstein brings together the personal recollections of philosophers, students, friends and acquaintances, including Bertrand Russell, G. E. Moore, F. R. Leavis, A. J. Ayer, Karl Popper, Friedrich von Hayek, G. H. von Wright, Freeman Dyson, Iris Murdoch, Mary Midgley and Mary Warnock. These authors testify to the life-long influence Wittgenstein had on the lives of those he met. Their fascinating memoirs, reflections and commentaries, often at odds with each other, reveal Wittgenstein's kindness, and how much genuine friendship meant to him, as well as his suffering and despair. They show too how the philosopher's ruthless honesty and uncompromising integrity often resulted in stern advice and harsh rebukes to friends and foes alike. Now abridged and available in paperback, this collection of valuable and hard-to-find material is an indispensable resource for scholars and students of the life and work of Ludwig Wittgenstein.

F. A. Flowers III is a retired appellate lawyer. In addition to being the author of several legal publications, he is the Editor of the First Edition of this work, as well as the Editor of Leo Tolstoy's The Gospel in Brief (1997). Ian Ground is a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Hertfordshire, UK and Vice-President of the British Wittgenstein Society. He has published on topics in the philosophy of Wittgenstein, aesthetics and philosophical issues concerning the understanding of animal minds.

This is why a book such as Portraits of Wittgenstein makes such compelling reading ... It is a collection of essays written by people who knew or came into contact with Wittgenstein over the years. Most people who did so either hated him or loved him; almost all feared him ... Even someone, such as this writer, who thinks there are philosophical problems, can find himself fascinated by, even rapt in this kaleidoscopic portrait of a genius, a saint-like holy fool of philosophy who lived his philosophy to the uttermost. * The University Bookman * Portraits of Wittgenstein is a splendid anthology of almost all the personal memoirs of Wittgenstein's relatives, friends, pupils and acquaintances. Collectively they provide a remarkable portrait of the greatest philosopher of the twentieth century, vividly depict his circle of friends, and illuminate the relationship between the man and his philosophy. (Of the hardback edition) * Peter Hacker, Emeritus Research Fellow, St John's College, Oxford, UK * [This] is a wonderful project - endlessly fascinating for philosophers, but it will also appeal to anyone with the most casual interest in twentieth-century intellectual history. This is the work everyone who is interested in Wittgenstein the man needs. (Of the hardback edition) * Times Literary Supplement * [A] splendid two-volume compendium ... Together they [the volumes] present a composite image of the man which is hugely impressive. (Of the hardback edition) * The Fortnightly Review * The contributions are excellent and rich in knowledge of the historical perspective and intellectual horizons in which Wittgenstein was moving. (Of the hardback edition) * Wittgenstein-Studien (Bloomsbury translation) * I have made constant use of this multi-volume collection of reminiscences about Wittgenstein since its original publication in 1999. This new and expanded edition adds several insightful pieces, including a detailed report on Wittgenstein's visit to Cornell in 1949. Endlessly fascinating! (Of the hardback edition) * James C. Klagge, Professor of Philosophy, Virginia Tech, USA and Author of 'Wittgenstein in Exile.' * Portraits of Wittgenstein is a comprehensive collection of recollections and memoirs of the greatest philosopher of the twentieth century. It is a mesmerising array of snapshots of a fascinating and charismatic thinker, which will give delight to many readers, and provides indispensable raw materials for reflections on Wittgenstein and his role in his troubled times and the relevance of his thought to ours. (Of the hardback edition) * Peter Hacker, Professor of Philosophy, University of Kent at Canterbury, UK * In bringing together such a large collection of memoirs of Wittgenstein - many hard to find in their original publications - the editors of this two-volume set perform an inestimable service to scholars of the philosopher, whether their interest is simply in biographical details or if they wish to contextualise his philosophy. The original of this publication has been of great service to me over the years in understanding the life and work of Wittgenstein, and I fully expect this expanded edition to fill a similar role. (Of the hardback edition) * Jonathan Smith, Archivist, Trinity College Library Cambridge, University of Cambridge, UK * Portraits of Wittgenstein is an invaluable cornucopia of biographical materials - from chronologies to records of teaching, from diary extracts to reminiscences. These newly updated volumes richly frame the extraordinary life of one of the twentieth-century's greatest philosophers as well as the receding horizon of his own time. (Of the hardback edition) * David Stern, Professor of Philosophy, University of Iowa, USA * What comes across so strongly in these recollections and reminiscences is how loved and admired he was ... This book is a tribute to his life and character. -- Sean Sheehan * Dublin Review of Books *