Review by Choice Review
This entry in the "Key Contemporary Thinkers" series includes biography available elsewhere, but Schroeder's sketches are deft. Long parts deal with the Tractatus and with Wittgenstein's later philosophy, and a short coda considers interpretations over the last half century. The exposition of the Tractatus is unnecessarily dense and oddly ordered, suggesting the picture theory of the proposition is derivative rather than foundational, and criticizing the "new Wittgenstein." The approach to the later Wittgenstein is clear and well ordered, insisting on philosophy as a radical, therapeutic activity, not a body of doctrine: the famous "fly bottle" image. Schroeder (Univ. of Reading, UK) gives a good account of the criticism of the Tractatus. He is agile in defusing allegations that Wittgenstein held this or that theory, e.g., that "meaning is use." This reading is not novel, but it is good. The last part describes "Oxford philosophy" and criticizes American misunderstandings of Wittgenstein, naming Quine, Davidson, Kripke, and Putnam. This would be a good introduction for readers who know a great deal about philosophy otherwise, but nothing about Wittgenstein. Such readers must be few. Although this work would be a stretch for the true novice, it is a useful account of Wittgenstein's life and work for sophisticated undergraduates and up. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers. J. Churchill formerly, Hendrix College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
