Author Description

Product Description This is the second volume of David Pears's acclaimed study of Wittgenstein's philosophy from the Notebooks and the Tractatus to Philosophical Investigations and other later writings. Dealing with writings from 1929 onward, Volume II provides close discussions of those doctrines and ideas thatreveal the general overall structure of Wittgenstein's thought. Designed to fill the gap in the secondary literature between brief introductions and long commentaries, The False Prison relates the general to the particular within a clearly delineated framework, making Wittgenstein's difficultthought more accessible to philosophy students and nonspecialists. Review Praise for Volume I: "A profound, scholarly and illuminating study....The idea of a definitive study of the work of any great philosopher is, no doubt, illusory....But it is reasonable to think that, when the second volume of Pears's work is added to the first, we shall have something that comes,for its time, as near as possible to that unattainable ideal."--P.F. Strawson"As a secondary source on the character of Wittgenstein's philosophy, this is among the best. Moreover, few studies of Wittgenstein by a single author attempt to be so comprehensive. Likely to become a basic part of Wittgenstein collections. Recommended for readers at all levels."--Choice"An excellent treatment of the early philosophy of Wittgenstein, and of some of its dominant themes. With its promised second volume, it should provide the perceptive student with an excellent introduction to the text."--George L. Farre, Georgetown University