A Conversation for Wittgenstein

Wittgenstein - I f you have nothing to say, don't say it.

Post 1

Steve K.

The Guide Article calls W. on of the most significant philosophers of the 20th century. The little book "Wittgenstein" by A. C. Grayling '88 gives similar quotes, then says that people reading such statements would assume W. as the most influential 20th century philosopher. "In fact he is not. ... most of what has happened in philosophy since his time consists exactly in what his writings proscribe: namely, systematic investigations of the very 'problems in philosophy' which he says will vanish when one attends properly to language".

So, how many angels WILL fit on the head of a pin?


Wittgenstein - I f you have nothing to say, don't say it.

Post 2

Haggis McHaggis

I Didn't bother reading your article..
I imagined that it would be just another piece of egocentric ranting from a sad pseudo intellectual tosser.
I really do not have anything to say.
I was actually following a link in the search for 'QUINE'. It took me to your really dull page, and I fell asleep for a couple of hours when I tried to find the appropriate word in amongst all that PAP.
If you actually did write quine somewhere, please visit my site and give me the lowdown; if not you probably miss-spelt quite or rabbit or something. HEY! This is not my Towel!!!!


Wittgenstein - I f you have nothing to say, don't say it.

Post 3

Steve K.

... just to clarify, I didn't write the "Article", I just responded with a message, as you did to my response. But if you want to talk about Quine, I have an opinion. Maybe.


Wittgenstein - I f you have nothing to say, don't say it.

Post 4

Recumbentman

Significant? Definitely. Influential? No question. What'd he say? A963579.


Wittgenstein - I f you have nothing to say, don't say it.

Post 5

Recumbentman

"most of what has happened in philosophy since his time consists exactly in what his writings proscribe" -- well it couldn't be otherwise, really. He hoped philosophers would shut up. They haven't.

The only happy outcome for Wittgenstein would have been for "what happened in philosophy" to be a swift and silent shutting up of shop. Somehow I suspect he knew that wouldn't happen -- but they have his ghost fuming over their shoulders, and that can be a beneficially chilling influence at least.


Wittgenstein - I f you have nothing to say, don't say it.

Post 6

Steve K.

" ... but they have his ghost fuming over their shoulders, and that can be a beneficially chilling influence at least."

Good point. "What would Ludwig say?"

smiley - smiley


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