Wittgenstein and the Possibility of Discourse by Rhees, Rush(May 8, 2006) Paperback

by Rush Rhees

Four years after the publication of Ludwig Wittgenstein 's Philosophical Investigations, Rush Rhees, one of Wittgenstein 's literary executors and closest friends, began writing reflections on the masterpiece he had helped to edit. In this collection of his previously unpublished writings, Rhees offers an original critique of Wittgenstein 's analogy between language and games. The volume constitutes a major contribution not only to Wittgenstein scholarship, but also to philosophical debates about the possibility of discourse, and to why conversation is central to that possibility.For the second edition, D.Z. Phillips has inserted as a preface Rhees ' article, 'The Fundamental Problems of Philosophy ', first published in 1994. This paper gives a clear picture of Rhees ' view of the distinctive nature of philosophical questions and of the character shown in a deep pursuit of them. Secondly, Phillips has included as an additional appendix, some of Rhees ' reflections on Wittgenstein, his teacher. The book 's index has also been enhanced.

Paperback

First published March 28, 1998

About the author

Rush Rhees was an American philosopher. He is principally known as a student, friend, and literary executor of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. Rhees taught at Swansea University from 1940 to 1966.

Not to be confused with his father (Benjamin) Rush Rhees, third president of the University of Rochester.