James C. Klagge

philosophy is not a set of doctrines, but a method to help avoid confusions of thought.

While they were trying to create a philosophy, Wittgenstein was trying to do philosophy

Wittgenstein sought progress only in curing confusions.

. Some philosophers might see progress in the creation of a large theoretical system of thought.

o him, words were part of sentences, sentences part of language, and languages part of communities. One of Wittgenstein’s students recalled that “it didn’t matter what subject matter Wittgenstein discussed. What was important was the method he brought to bear on the subject, which was always the same.

o him, words were part of sentences, sentences part of language, and languages part of communities. One of Wittgenstein’s students recalled that “it didn’t matter what subject matter Wittgenstein discussed. What was important was the method he brought to bear on the subject, which was always the same.

. A second book, the Philosophical Investigations (PI), which was published shortly after his death, was more extensive and wide-ranging, but without a clear point. It could be

It is most common to put the book down after several pages and wonder what Wittgenstein could be talking about.

It is most common to put the book down after several pages and wonder what Wittgenstein could be talking about.

But as important as Wittgenstein is taken to be, I have not met a person who has tried to read either of his two great books and come away without a feeling of deep frustration. This is especially true of readers with little background in philosophy, but it is even true of those with a good deal of background and experience in philosophy. Invariably, the problem is that the context is missing.