Wittgenstein Lectures and Conversations on Aesthetics, Psychology, and Religious Belief

Rating:
Summary: Wittgenstein on Aesthetics
Review: This book contains lectures and discussions by Wittgenstein on topics that are not addressed in his major works: aesthetics and religious belief. The remarks were recorded by students and friends.

In his early work, the Tractatus, Wittgenstein said: Ethics and aesthetics are one. Both are "beyond" capture in a "meaningful proposition". His later philosophy has a surprising turn away from the earlier ideas.

Anyone doing aesthetics cannot ignore these remarks. Are poems important? Is laughter a concern of philosophy? The distinction betwen cause and reason is for W. at the root of a major misunderstanding in aesthetics.
W. was fascinated by St. Augustine, Cardinal Newman, George Fox, Luther. O.K. Bouwsma once remarked to me that W. had said to him that it was astounding that a man as intelligent as Cardinal Newman saw a miracle in the fact that Napoleon's troops weapons dropped from their hands in the attack on Russia.

Rating:
Summary: Wittgenstein on Aesthetics
Review: This book contains lectures and discussions by Wittgenstein on topics that are not addressed in his major works: aesthetics and religious belief. The remarks were recorded by students and friends.

In his early work, the Tractatus, Wittgenstein said: Ethics and aesthetics are one. Both are "beyond" capture in a "meaningful proposition". His later philosophy has a surprising turn away from the earlier ideas.

Anyone doing aesthetics cannot ignore these remarks. Are poems important? Is laughter a concern of philosophy? The distinction betwen cause and reason is for W. at the root of a major misunderstanding in aesthetics.
W. was fascinated by St. Augustine, Cardinal Newman, George Fox, Luther. O.K. Bouwsma once remarked to me that W. had said to him that it was astounding that a man as intelligent as Cardinal Newman saw a miracle in the fact that Napoleon's troops weapons dropped from their hands in the attack on Russia.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, not great
Review: Whatever sagacity I sought from Wittgenstein regarding religion was somewhat lacking. The conversation he has regarding religion really touches more on death than on theology. Not quite what I was looking for. The section on religion is a bit of a misnomer.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, not great
Review: Whatever sagacity I sought from Wittgenstein regarding religion was somewhat lacking. The conversation he has regarding religion really touches more on death than on theology. Not quite what I was looking for. The section on religion is a bit of a misnomer.