Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations

William H. Brenner is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Old Dominion University. He is the translator, with John F. Holley, of Joachim Schulte's Wittgenstein: An Introduction, also published by SUNY Press, and the author of Logic and Philosophy: An Integrated Introduction.

"This is an admirable book in every way. As an introduction to the Philosophical Investigations it could hardly be bettered." — International Studies in Philosophy"William H. Brenner has written an introduction to Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations which will not easily be replaced." — International Philosophical Quarterly"Brenner shows excellent judgment in selecting which themes of Wittgenstein's work to emphasize—this is very important in a book of this sort. He gives his readers a very good idea of the range of Wittgenstein's concerns and how they hang together. The choice of topics is very balanced, including major topics in philosophy of language and philosophy of mind, and crucial themes like the relation between grammar and metaphysics. Brenner is particularly good at helping the reader grasp the kind of philosophical clarity at which Wittgenstein aimed, and he connects this aim beautifully with Wittgenstein's remarks about religion. Brenner is excellent at picking illuminating examples: his little dialogues should be particularly helpful to readers and will also be useful to teachers who want to stimulate discussion. Again and again, Brenner picks out exactly what is important."Brenner is outstanding as a commentator on Wittgenstein, combining a real sensitivity to the texts (and to Wittgenstein's aims) with an awareness of the needs of his audience. I would not have thought it possible to have combined real accessibility to non-specialists with such a firm and subtle understanding of Wittgenstein. There is simply no other work I know of that makes Wittgenstein accessible at this level. That it does so with such distinguished scholarship, and with such sensitivity, is really remarkable." — Cora Diamond, University of Virginia"Freshly and clearly written, it is accessible to laymen but also of great interest to experts. Brenner's choice of topics—imaginative and exciting—is the book's greatest strength." — Jonathan Westphal, Idaho State University

• Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations Chapter One Introduction Thales to Wittgenstein Chapter Two The Philosophical Investigations Philosophical InvestigationLanguagePictures of the Essence of LanguageLogic and PhilosophyFollowing a RuleMindSensationThoughtKinaesthesiaAspect PerceptionConcept FormationThe Concept of the Soul Chapter Three Sensation and the Soul Sensations, Beetles, and "Private Language"The Soulless Tribe Chapter FourColor and Number Color GrammarArithmetic as Grammar Chapter FiveGod Theology as GrammarReligions, Language, and Ethics Chapter SixConclusion Philosophy and the Yearning for the Transcendent Bibliography Index to Sections in Philosophical Investigations Index