Tuesday 29 March 2011

Preface to Tractatus Logicus

Read this!!  http://www.gutenberg.org/files/5740/5740-pdf.pdf

This book will perhaps only be understood by those who have themselves
already thought the thoughts which are expressed in it—or similar
thoughts. It is therefore not a text-book. Its object would be attained
if there were one person who read it with understanding and to whom it
afforded pleasure.
The book deals with the problems of philosophy and shows, as I
believe, that the method of formulating these problems rests on the misunderstanding
of the logic of our language. Its whole meaning could be
summed up somewhat as follows: What can be said at all can be said
clearly; and whereof one cannot speak thereof one must be silent.
The book will, therefore, draw a limit to thinking, or rather—not to
thinking, but to the expression of thoughts; for, in order to draw a limit
to thinking we should have to be able to think both sides of this limit
(we should therefore have to be able to think what cannot be thought).
The limit can, therefore, only be drawn in language and what lies on
the other side of the limit will be simply nonsense.
How far my efforts agree with those of other philosophers I will not
decide. Indeed what I have here written makes no claim to novelty in
points of detail; and therefore I give no sources, because it is indifferent
to me whether what I have thought has already been thought before me
by another.
I will only mention that to the great works of Frege and the writings
of my friend Bertrand Russell I owe in large measure the stimulation of
my thoughts.
If this work has a value it consists in two things. First that in it
thoughts are expressed, and this value will be the greater the better the
thoughts are expressed. The more the nail has been hit on the head.—
Here I am conscious that I have fallen far short of the possible. Simply
because my powers are insufficient to cope with the task.—May others
come and do it better.

11 comments:

  1. An interesting read, as always. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is the first post I read and I must say that it is just absolutely astounding that there are still some people that have a passion for thinking way beyond the box. You gave me something to think about and I will look into reading the book you recommended.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nuance is the game of life. Everything we do is impacted by how well our words are interpreted by others, and being able to understand and adapt to nuances in conversation is what makes someone seem smarter.

    The responsibility of whether their perceived metaphorical cup (capacity for knowledge) is full or not lies with the speaker, but generally people will believe statements as fact by speakers who generally portray a grand capacity for understanding.

    +Follow, not many blogs nowadays have the courage to post walls of text, even if there's is something decent to be had in it. Keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I couldn't agree more with the above post

    ReplyDelete
  5. Woow good point of view my friend, keep it going.

    ReplyDelete
  6. really made me think ... for a minute :3

    ReplyDelete
  7. i have to pick this book up; this post is fascinating to me!

    ReplyDelete