Movements of Thought
Ludwig Wittgenstein's Diary, 1930–1932 and 1936–1937
Ludwig Wittgenstein author Alfred Nordmann translator Alfred Nordmann editor James C Klagge editor Ray Monk editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published:4th Jan '23
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This book offers insight into Ludwig Wittgenstein's philosophical journey through his diary, revealing his personal struggles, relationships, and reflections on spirituality, alongside commentary on notable figures in philosophy and music.
Movements of Thought offers a fascinating glimpse into the philosophical journey of Ludwig Wittgenstein through his personal diary, which contrasts with his published works that present his final theories. This collection reveals the inner workings of Wittgenstein's mind, showcasing his philosophical practice and the evolution of his thoughts during the 1930s.
The diary entries serve as a deeply personal narrative, reflecting Wittgenstein's struggles with his relationship with Marguerite Respinger, alongside his attempts to grapple with its emotional fallout. He shares insights into his dreams, engages with the ideas of notable contemporaries like Frank Ramsey and G.E. Moore, and expresses his thoughts on influential musicians and writers, including Beethoven and Dostoevsky. These reflections provide a rich context for understanding his philosophical inquiries and personal dilemmas.
Wittgenstein's candid exploration of his spiritual crisis in Norway during the winter of 1937 adds a poignant layer to the narrative. Despite his earlier advocacy for silence on spiritual matters, this diary reveals a profound and honest quest for belief, echoing themes found in the Bible. Movements of Thought not only presents an intimate portrait of a pivotal figure in philosophy but also includes updated editorial notes and a new introduction by Ray Monk, enhancing the reader's comprehension of Wittgenstein's complex references and placing his experiences within the broader scope of his life. This edition makes an important contribution to the understanding of Wittgenstein's legacy.
Wittgenstein, the man and the philosopher, is a Promethean, puzzling mind. Both his personality and his philosophizing, as Ray Monk superbly recounts in his introduction, emerged from a highly peculiar way of systematizing self-examination. This diary exemplifies that splendidly in a crucial phase of his later development. -- Allan Janik, co-founder, Vienna's Wittgenstein Initiative
These diaries—brilliant and tortured—offer profound insight into the private world of the anti-philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, the deepest and most self-critical philosophical thinker of the twentieth century. Utterly fascinating—as well as indispensable for anyone interested in the man, his thought, or the intimate connections between the two. -- Louis Sass, Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University, author of The Paradoxes of Delusion: Wittgenstein, Schreber, and the Schizophrenic Mind
What would it look like to truly face yourself? To give a ruthless self-accounting, to set to dismantling what’s unworthy, and to work doggedly towards remolding whatever remains? In this profound and intimate diary Wittgenstein gives us a glimpse—and it’s both inspiring and terrifying. It embodies a demand that we change our lives. -- Gabriel Citron, Department of Religion, Princeton University
ISBN: 9781538163665
Dimensions: 223mm x 148mm x 17mm
Weight: 349g
142 pages