Do you need to understand about Wittgenstein's life and times in order to understand his philosophy?

Question

I think you do, but in response to a previous question somebody has suggested otherwise.

Answer 1

Wittgenstein has not merely talked on problems of philosophy. He lived philosophy. Hence we need to understand his life and times in order to understand his philosophy. It is important to remember what he told to Malcolm, one of his students whom he loved the most, "All your philosophy is in vain if you are not a man."

Answer 2

Hello - it's me again. Maybe this analogy may help explain why I said you don't need to understand Wittgenstein's life to understand his work.

What you're suggesting would be like saying you need to be familiar with life in Ancient Alexandria in order to understand Euclidean geometry. In reality the culture of Euclid's time and the events of his life are irrelevant to grasping his work - it's fundamentally about logic.

Answer 3

Yes, his style and theories erratically changed as his character did. from fighting in World War One to fighting Karl Popper with a Poker some things changed others stayed consistent. Interesting life to read anyway.

Answer 4

No, philosophy is infinitely bigger than any one person. People think they understand until somebody comes up with a new theory, then they realise they didn't.
We are still in this position.

Answer 5

don't know much about wittgenstein, (infact i just srtuggled to spell his name), but from experience i understood and appreciated edgar allen poe a lot better when i read his biography. (i'm sure these two don't compare), but it helps to know where someone's coming from.

Answer 6

no. That always contaminates every piece of work...
Heidegger: Nazi!
Plato + Foucault: gay!
Nietzsche: nut!
Russel: prick!
Nussbaum: rug-muncher!
Rorty: snob!
etc. etc. etc
Read it for what it is..... its hermeneutics anyway.

Answer 7

No

Answer 8

universaly i dont know.