A Wittgenstein Dictionary

by Hans-Johann Glock

This lucid and accessible dictionary presents technical terms that Wittgenstein introduced into philosophical debate or transformed substantially, and also topics to which he made a substantial contribution. Hans-Johann Glock places Wittgenstein's ideas in their relevance to current debates. The entries delineate Wittgenstein's lines of argument on particular issues, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, and shed light on fundamental exegetical controversies. The dictionary entries are prefaced by a "Sketch of a Intellectual Biography", which links the basic themes of the early and later philosophy and describes the general development of Wittgenstein's thinking. Extensive textual references, a detailed index and an annotated bibliography will facilitate further study. Authoritative, comprehensive and clear, the volume will be welcomed by anyone with an interest in Wittgenstein – his life, work or influence. Each Blackwell Philosopher Dictionary presents the life and work of an individual philosopher in a scholarly but accessible manner. Entries cover key ideas and thoughts, as well as the main themes of the philosopher’s works. A comprehensive biographical sketch is also included.

Genres: Philosophy

416 pages, Paperback

First published December 20, 1995

Reviews

[Ross Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that one may describe as “magisterial” without embarrassment. It’s a truly massive achievement. I can count on one hand the number of texts in the Wittgenstein literature that I’ve found as useful as Glock’s dictionary. Bravo!