Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Meaning of Life

Ludwig Wittgenstein's private letters, remarks, and notes provide new insights into his understanding of the meaning of life, including his interest in religion and ethics. Joaquín Jareño Alarcón's book explores the significance of these topics in Wittgenstein's personal experience and intellectual evolution, offering a balanced view of his writings and the recollections of those in his circle. It is an essential resource for scholars and students of philosophy, particularly those interested in Wittgenstein's humanistic writings and his engagement with religion and ethics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 20 July 2023
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Widely regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century, Ludwig Wittgenstein was profoundly interested in the significance of religion and ethics. While he did not systematically examine these topics in his major published works, Wittgenstein openly expressed his intention to explore fundamental issues from a religious perspective at times.

Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Meaning of Life is the first compilation of private letters, remarks, and notes regarding Wittgenstein's thoughts and attitudes on ethics, religion, goodness, value, and moral action. Authored by Joaquín Jareño Alarcón, this book adopts an academic approach to reveal the profound significance of religion and ethics in Wittgenstein's personal experience. It corroborates the enduring tension between Wittgenstein and religion, highlights Wittgenstein's preoccupation with the core questions addressed by religious discourse, and offers a wealth of insights into his intellectual evolution.

The texts in the book are chronologically organized, accompanied by detailed commentary to illustrate how Wittgenstein's interests in religion and ethics were reflected throughout his personal and intellectual journey. A wide range of primary sources, including personal commentaries, annotations, lecture notes, and diary entries, are included to provide a comprehensive understanding of Wittgenstein's thoughts on these subjects. Testimony from friends, students, and others with close ties to Wittgenstein further enhances the book's value, presenting a balanced view of what Wittgenstein wrote and the recollections of those in his circle.

One of the key themes explored in Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Meaning of Life is the principal intention of Wittgenstein's landmark work, the Tractatus. Alarcón delves into the philosophical underpinnings of the Tractatus and discusses how it demonstrates the relevance of matters concerning religion and the meaning of life. The book sheds light on Wittgenstein's ethical point of view on religion, highlighting his belief in the importance of religious discourse for addressing fundamental ethical questions.

In conclusion, Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Meaning of Life is an essential reading for postgraduate students, scholars, and anyone interested in exploring the profound insights of one of the 20th century's most influential philosophers. Through its comprehensive analysis of Wittgenstein's private letters, remarks, and notes, the book provides a deep understanding of his thoughts on religion, ethics, goodness, value, and moral action. It sheds light on the enduring tension between Wittgenstein and religion, highlights his preoccupation with the core questions addressed by religious discourse, and offers a balanced view of what Wittgenstein wrote and the recollections of those in his circle. This book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of Wittgenstein's philosophy and its relevance to contemporary debates about the meaning of life.

Weight: 392g
Dimension: 152 x 231 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781394162888