Ludwig Wittgenstein: Dictating Philosophy - by Arthur Gibson & Niamh O'Mahony (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In this volume we witness Wittgenstein in the act of composing and experimenting with his new visions in philosophy. The book includes key explanations of the origin and background of these previously unknown manuscripts. It investigates how Wittgenstein's philosophical thought-processes are revealed in his dictation to, as well as his editing and revision with Francis Skinner, in the latter's role of amanuensis. The book displays a considerable wealth and variety of Wittgenstein's fundamental experiments in philosophy across a wide array of subjects that include the mind, pure and applied mathematics, metaphysics, the identities of ordinary and creative language, as well as intractable problems in logic and life. He also periodically engages with the work of Newton, Fermat, Russell and others. The book shows Wittgenstein strongly battling against the limits of understanding and the bewitchment of institutional and linguistic customs. The reader is drawn in by Wittgenstein as he urges us to join him in his struggles to equip us with skills, so that we can embark on devising new pathways beyond confusion.

This collection of manuscripts was posted off by Wittgenstein to be considered for publication during World War 2, in October 1941. None of it was published and it remained hidden for over two generations. Upon its rediscovery, Professor Gibson was invited to research, prepare and edit the Archive to appear as this book, encouraged by Trinity College Cambridge and The Mathematical Association. Niamh O'Mahony joined him in co-editing and bringing this book to publication.

From the Back Cover

In this volume we witness Wittgenstein in the act of composing and experimenting with his new visions in philosophy. The book includes key explanations of the origin and background of these previously unknown manuscripts. It investigates how Wittgenstein's philosophical thought-processes are revealed in his dictation to, as well as his editing and revision with Francis Skinner, in the latter's role of amanuensis. The book displays a considerable wealth and variety of Wittgenstein's fundamental experiments in philosophy across a wide array of subjects that include the mind, pure and applied mathematics, metaphysics, the identities of ordinary and creative language, as well as intractable problems in logic and life. He also periodically engages with the work of Newton, Fermat, Russell and others. The book shows Wittgenstein strongly battling against the limits of understanding and the bewitchment of institutional and linguistic customs. The reader is drawn in by Wittgenstein as he urges us to join him in his struggles to equip us with skills, so that we can embark on devising new pathways beyond confusion.

This collection of manuscripts was posted off by Wittgenstein to be considered for publication during World War 2, in October 1941. None of it was published and it remained hidden for over two generations. Upon its rediscovery, Professor Gibson was invited to research, prepare and edit the Archive to appear as this book, encouraged by Trinity College Cambridge and The Mathematical Association. Niamh O'Mahony joined him in co-editing and bringing this book to publication.

Review Quotes

"I said earlier that the sum of these texts is not greater than the sum of its parts. Still, the parts are the product of a philosophical genius applying himself with the greatest concentration to the topics that drew him most. ... Anyone with a serious interest in Wittgenstein who dips into one or another of the texts collected here will be richly rewarded." (Jason Bridges, Metascience, Vol. 32 (3), 2023)

"Gibson and O'Mahony have done a remarkable job and Dictating Philosophy will prove to be of tremendous importance to the field of Wittgenstein scholarship. ... the new angles of approach and skillfully crafted examples from these dictations unquestionably provide real food for thought." (Nuno Venturinha, PHILOSOPHY, The Journal of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, June 16, 2021)

About the Author

Professor Arthur Gibson graduated in Philosophy at Cambridge University, later acting as Director of Studies for a variety of its Colleges; he has been a Member of its Council of Senate, and a Proctor of the University; Arthur is a research member in the University's Department of Pure Mathematics & Mathematical Statistics, with interests in Foundations of Mathematics, Mathematical Philosophy, Wittgenstein, Metaphysics, Quantum Computing, infinity, AI, and mathematical physics of Cosmology - including dark energy; he is Chair of the Faculty Board of Cambridge University's Judge Business School; and for three years was Visiting Fellow at the Cambridge Law Faculty Lauterpacht Centre for International Law. He was the founding Chair of the European Maritime Security Council, continues to research for solutions to and advise on extreme international problems, and select areas of Public International Law jurisprudence for practical applications. His research books include topics in the above subjects, as well as volumes in metaphysics, ancient Near East languages and cultures, modern literatures, and poetry.

Niamh O'Mahony was a producer and writer at the BBC Russian Service. She is a graduate of the London School of Slavonic and East European Studies, UCL (Russian), and SOAS (Arabic), previously studying Arabic at Kuwait University. She was a PhD researcher in Early Russian Film at Trinity College Cambridge and the University's Department of Slavonic Studies. Niamh has lectured on the subject of Wittgenstein in Russia, and benefitted from a British Academy research award to do ethnographic research in Dagestan, former Soviet Union. She continues to have small roles in several films (Suffragette, Tulip Fever, Fantastic Beasts 2, Men in Black IV, Wonder Woman 2, etc). Earlier, she graduated from University College Dublin and practised in hospitals in Kuwait, Ireland and the UK.