Wittgenstein and Modern Philosophy

Justus Hartnack
Translated by Maurice Cranston

“ Wittgenstein and Modern Philosophy describes some central problems of the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and the Philosophical Investigations, discusses the Tractatus’s influence on the Logical Positivists, and compares Wittgenstein’s earlier and later views. The concluding chapter summarizes some work of a few contemporary philosophers who, in Professor Hartnack’s eyes, can be viewed as carrying on ‘investigations’ that have their genesis in Wittgenstein’s later work.” — Times Literary Supplement

“The greatest virtue of the exposition is its simplicity. Hartnack presents his interpretation of Wittgenstein very briefly, in clear language, and with a minimum of complexity. The result is an exposition of the philosophy of Wittgenstein simple enough to be understood by any student of philosophy and almost any layman.” —Carl Wellman, Lawrence University

JUSTUS HARTNACK, the author of numerous studies in modern philosophy, is emeritus professor of philosophy at Aarhus University in Denmark and emeritus distinguished professor at the State University of New York at Brockport.

“[Hartnack] has managed to state the main points in the Tractatus and the Philosophical Investigations in such a simple way that his exposition may well be the best introduction for the layman or the student of philosophy.” — The Philosophical Review