Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (Oxford's World Classics)

189 pp. 8vo. A new translation into English from the original German by Michael Beaney. An immensely influential philosophical treatise examining the relationship between language and reality, and attempting to define the limitations of scientific inquiry. It was Wittgenstein's only full-length publication during his lifetime, originally published in the German journal Annalen der Naturphilosophie as Logisch-Philosophische Abhandlung, and quickly influenced the work of logical positivists and other 20th century philosophers. The author was displeased with Russell's contribution to the work, asserting that Russell's introduction displayed a fundamental misunderstanding of the work. The publication of the English translation was delayed because Wittgenstein originally insisted it be published without Russell's introduction (Cambridge declined it for this reason), though ultimately he relented and a deal was struck with Kegan Paul, who arranged for a portion of the original edition to be released in the United States by Harcourt, Brace & Company. The title of the English translation is an homage to Spinoza's famous work Tractatus Theologico-Politicus. Michael Beaney's translation is accompanied by two introductory essays, the first explaining the background to Wittgenstein's work, its main ideas and their subsequent development and influence, and some of the central debates, and the second providing an account of the history of the text and the two earlier translations. It is accompanied by detailed notes, explaining key points of translation and interpretation, a glossary, chronology, and other editorial material designed to help the reader understand the Tractatus and its place in the history of philosophy.