Ludwig Wittgenstein (Reaktion Books - Critical Lives)

"Wittgenstein is widely regarded as one of the greatest philosophers since Kant, and his work, private life and historical events intertwine in a fascinating, complex web. Edward Kanterian explores these intersections and provides a careful account of Wittgenstein's notoriously abstract philosophical works, from Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1921) to the posthumously published Philosophical Investigations (1953), making them comprehensible to general readers as well as offering new interpretations. Yet the philosopher's passions were not solely confined to theoretical musings, and this book explores Wittgenstein's immersion in art, architecture and music as well as his social position as a member of the sophisticated Viennese upper class at the beginning of the twentieth century." "His personal and professional relationships also offer insights into his thought, as he was friends with some of the the most fascinating intellectual figures of the time, among them Gottlob Frege, John Maynard Keynes, George Edward Moore, Bertrand Russell and Adolf Loos." --Book Jacket.