The Wittgenstein Reader

This popular collection of Wittgenstein’s key writings represents the breadth and complexity of the philosopher’s work. It follows the evolution of Wittgenstein’s philosophical thought from the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus through the Blue and Brown Books to his later work in the Philosophical Investigations. The excerpts are arranged by topic and introduce readers to all the central concerns of Wittgenstein’s philosophy, including meaning and understanding, intentionality, rule following, private language, necessity, scepticism and certainty.

For the second edition, a new chapter on ‘Sense, Nonsense and Philosophy’ has been added incorporating material relevant to recent debates about Wittgenstein. In particular, this chapter includes key passages which have proved central to interpretations of Wittgenstein by the so-called ‘New Wittgensteinians’.