Philosophical Grammar by Ludwig Wittgenstein-Paperback

Philosophical Grammar – First Edition (Paperback)
By Ludwig Wittgenstein | Translated by Anthony Kenny | Edited by Rush Rhees

A cornerstone in the evolution of Wittgenstein’s thought, Philosophical Grammar is more than just a book—it is the missing link between the Tractatus and the later Philosophical Investigations. Written from his notebooks between 1931 and 1934 and revised in 1933, this first English translation brings readers into the very heart of Wittgenstein’s shifting philosophy of language.

Here, Wittgenstein challenges the dominance of abstract, rigid systems in logic and mathematics, replacing them with his groundbreaking notion of family resemblance—meanings that emerge not from fixed definitions, but from overlapping patterns of use. His sharp critiques of Frege and Russell reshape the conversation on logic, while his deep reflections on language, propositions, and signs illuminate why his work continues to influence philosophy, linguistics, and beyond.

Why You’ll Want This Edition

• Essential Bridge – Connects Wittgenstein’s early and later philosophies, making it key for understanding his intellectual journey.
• Definitive Treatment of Logic & Math – His fullest exploration of these subjects, offering a radical rethinking that reshaped 20th-century thought.
• Influential Concept of “Family Resemblance” – A revolutionary way of thinking about meaning, still central to modern philosophy and linguistics.
• Authentic First Edition Translation – Translated by Anthony Kenny and edited by Rush Rhees, ensuring accuracy and fidelity to Wittgenstein’s vision.

While Philosophical Grammar may not be an easy read, its rewards are immense. This is Wittgenstein at a crossroads, wrestling with the nature of thought, meaning, and human understanding. For collectors, students, and lovers of philosophy, this edition is a landmark piece of intellectual history.

 

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 1, 2005
• Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 498 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0520245024
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520245020
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.3 x 1.25 x 8.4 inches
• Condition: Used Very

 

Genres: Philosophy, Reference, Language, Nonfiction, Logic, Mathematics,

 

About the Author

Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein (1889–1951) was an Austrian-British philosopher whose work transformed 20th-century thought in logic, mathematics, mind, and language. Born in Vienna into one of Europe’s wealthiest families, Wittgenstein gave away his fortune to support artists and writers, choosing instead a life devoted to philosophy and intellectual struggle.

From 1929 to 1947, he taught at the University of Cambridge, where he left a lasting mark on generations of students and colleagues. Remarkably, only one major philosophical book was published in his lifetime—the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1921)—a work that shaped early analytic philosophy and established him as a formidable thinker. His later masterpiece, Philosophical Investigations (1953), published posthumously, is now regarded as one of the most influential works of modern philosophy and was ranked the most important philosophical book of the 20th century in a 1999 survey of American professors.

Wittgenstein’s philosophy is often described in two phases: the “early Wittgenstein” of the Tractatus, who sought a precise logical structure underlying language and reality, and the “later Wittgenstein” of the Investigations, who revolutionized thinking about meaning by emphasizing use and language games. Together, these works continue to shape debates in philosophy, linguistics, and cognitive science.

Beyond academia, Wittgenstein lived a restless and unconventional life: serving with distinction on the front lines in World War I, teaching in remote Austrian villages, working as a hospital porter in wartime London, and later as a technician in Newcastle. His personal intensity, radical generosity, and uncompromising search for clarity make him as compelling a figure as the philosophy he produced.