On Certainty - by Ludwig Wittgenstein

About the Book

"This new edition of Wittgenstein's On Certainty, translated by Peter Hacker, presents a seminal work in epistemology. It features a bilingual German-English text, detailed editorial notes, and an introductory essay exploring the work's development. Appendices offer translations of related Wittgenstein manuscripts, enriching this authoritative translation"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

The German text, with a facing English translation by P. M. S. Hacker

Ludwig Wittgenstein's On Certainty collects the final notes of one of the twentieth century's most influential thinkers, written during the last eighteen months of his life. These posthumously published fragments reflect on questions of knowledge, doubt, and belief. They offer a distinctive perspective on Wittgenstein's late philosophy, and contain many remarks which have greatly influenced epistemological debate in the ensuing decades.

This new translation by P. M. S. Hacker offers a clear and improved rendering of the original German, restoring features of the manuscripts that are essential for understanding the text. Presented in a facing-page German-English format, the edition is clear and readable for both students and scholars, includes a detailed introductory essay on the genesis of the text, and benefits from extensive textual notes that support deeper engagement with Wittgenstein's arguments. The text also includes several appendices with new translations of select excerpts from other late Wittgenstein manuscripts with reflections on knowledge, belief, doubt, and certainty.

This definitive translation and edition of On Certainty enables readers to engage thoughtfully with Wittgenstein's final thoughts on the limits of doubt and the grounding of belief. Enhanced by Hacker's expertise, it is an invaluable resource for those studying epistemology, philosophy of language, or Wittgenstein's later work

From the Back Cover

The German text, with a facing English translation by P. M. S. Hacker

Ludwig Wittgenstein's On Certainty collects the final notes of one of the twentieth century's most influential thinkers, written during the last eighteen months of his life. These posthumously published fragments reflect on questions of knowledge, doubt, and belief. They offer a distinctive perspective on Wittgenstein's late philosophy, and contain many remarks which have greatly influenced epistemological debate in the ensuing decades.

This new translation by P. M. S. Hacker offers a clear and improved rendering of the original German, restoring features of the manuscripts that are essential for understanding the text. Presented in a facing-page German-English format, the edition is clear and readable for both students and scholars, includes a detailed introductory essay on the genesis of the text, and benefits from extensive textual notes that support deeper engagement with Wittgenstein's arguments. The text also includes several appendices with new translations of select excerpts from other late Wittgenstein manuscripts with reflections on knowledge, belief, doubt, and certainty.

This meticulous translation and edition of On Certainty enables readers to engage thoughtfully with Wittgenstein's final thoughts on the limits of doubt and the grounding of belief. Enhanced by Hacker's expertise, it is an invaluable resource for those studying epistemology, philosophy of language, or Wittgenstein's later work.

Review Quotes

"This is the new interpretation of On Certainty that Wittgenstein scholars have been waiting for, overseen by one of the world's foremost experts on Wittgenstein's work."

--Duncan Pritchard, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, University of California, Irvine

"Peter Hacker's new edition and translation of On Certainty is a clear improvement on the previous one. Hacker recovers material unjustly left out, provides illuminating notes, improves on the earlier translation at many places, and adds a helpful scholarly article on the genesis of the text. A must for anyone interested in Wittgenstein, epistemology, or simply philosophy."

--Hanoch Ben-Yami, Professor of Philosophy, Central European University

"This impeccably researched volume, with its lucid new facing-page translation of a newly organized and more comprehensive German text, is sure to rank as the definitive edition of Wittgenstein's seminal writings on certainty."

--John Cottingham, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Reading

"I am completely sure that P.M. S. Hacker's translation of On Certainty will become the definitive English version of Wittgenstein's notorious text, not least because Hacker takes careful recourse to highly relevant material - on knowledge, belief, certainty, and doubt regarding the mental attributes of others - from Wittgenstein's last notebooks. In so doing, he provides invaluable commentary to oft-overlooked supplementary material. A fillip to both Wittgenstein studies and epistemology, this new bilingual edition promises to engage scholars for many decades indeed."

--Constantine Sandis, Founding Director of Lex Academic and Visiting Professor of Philosophy at the University of Hertfordshire

About the Author

P. M. S. HACKER is an Emeritus Fellow at St John's College, Oxford, and one of the world's leading authorities on the philosophy of Wittgenstein. He has authored 25 books and over 175 papers, with significant contributions to the philosophy of language, mind, and neuroscience. His works include Philosophical Foundations of Neuroscience (co-authored with M. R. Bennett) and the four-volume Human Nature series.