Wittgenstein: Should We Abandon Philosophy?
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein
A Short Biography of Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein was born in Vienna in 1889 to a wealthy family. Before turning to philosophy, Wittgenstein studied mechanics and engineering at Manchester University in England. It was during this period of time and because of his studies that he became interested in philosophy.
Wittgenstein’s philosophical career began when he wondered, ‘what are numbers?’ Following this, Wittgenstein went to see the highly influential philosopher Bertrand Russell; Russell would become Wittgenstein’s mentor.
Wittgenstein’s first philosophical book the Tractatus Logico- Philosophicus was published from the trenches of the First World War.
Following WW1, Wittgenstein went to Cambridge to teach; he presented the Tractatus as his doctoral thesis and was accepted.
His second and, perhaps, most well known book, The Philosophical Investigations , was published in 1953, following Wittgenstein’s death in 1951. Other writings include The Blue and Brown Books and On Certainty.
During the course of his career he had worked with many of the world's most renowned intellectuals, including the mathematical genius, Alan Turing, who he briefly taught. By the time of his death Wittgenstein was regarded as one of the most famous philosophers in the world.
Should People Give Up Philosophy?
It could be argued that people both today and during Wittgenstein's lifetime, do not hold philosopher's in high esteem. This argument continues to have merit because in seeking advice on those important philosophical questions of how to live our lives, we relinquish some of the control we have over our lives and the choices we make; and this is something most people are not happy about doing.
Moreover, people tend to be happy to live their lives in a routine fashion; following these day to day habits without giving much thought or consideration to what they are doing. For as long as the collective state of mind remains this way, there is really no use for philosophy.
In this respect, philosophers would be more successful if they were to work rather than continue studying, as there is nothing to be gained from pursuing a subject few have interest in.
Working in Woolworths
Wittgenstein famously told his students that they should give up philosophy and go and work in Woolworths.
It is ironic that Wittgenstein would declare that it is preferential to work in a downright boring, unprestigious and tedious job than to further one’s education by studying philosophy. It seems likely that those forced to work in these types of jobs do not find their work enjoyable or dignified.
Perhaps it is for this reason that for the majority of people there is still a ‘growing demand for the ‘‘extra-ordinary,’’’ (Turnbull, 2007, p.390) and that philosophy ‘still fascinates, because ‘‘ordinary life’’ is, in some way, experienced by most as radically incomplete.’ (Turnbull, 2007, p.390)
It seems that people do need philosophy after all; it gives them hope.
References:
Schroeder, S., Wittgenstein: The Way out of the Fly Bottle,’ Cambridge: Polity Press, 2006
Turnbull, N.R., ‘Wittgenstein’s Leben: Language, Philosophy and the Authority of the Everyday,’ in Candler, P.M. and Cunningham., ‘Belief and Metaphysics,’ Canterbury: SCM Press, 2007, pp.374-392
