Philosophies of Wittgenstein

Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889?1951) is one of the most significant and influential philosophers of recent times.
Indeed, Wittgenstein's unique philosophical approach and distinctive style of writing have made him a cult-like
figure in wider intellectual and artistic circles, beyond that of philosophy, and have been a source of
inspiration for film-makers, painters and composers alike. Wittgenstein is also unusual because of at least two,
some would say three, radical changes in his philosophical thinking and approach. The present course covers
key aspects of both the early and later Wittgenstein. The module is co-taught by several members of staff from
the School of Philosophy with expertise in different aspects of Wittgenstein's work. The first section focuses
on the early Wittgenstein and his masterpiece the Tractatus Logico Philosophicus. In the second section we look
at his most significant work, the Philosophical Investigations. We complete the course with an examination of
Wittgenstein's last work, On Certainty