Waking to Wonder: Wittgenstein's Existential InvestigationsSUNY Press, 1997 M01 16 - 265 pages The central claim of this book is that, early and late, Wittgenstein modelled his approach to existential meaning on his account of linguistic meaning. A reading of Nietzsche's The Birth of Tragedy sets up Bearn's reading of the existential point of Wittgenstein's Tractatus. Bearn argues that both books try to resolve our anxiety about the meaning of life by appeal to the deep, unutterable essence of the world. Bearn argues that as Wittgenstein's and Nietzsche's thought matured, they both separately came to believe that the answer to our existential anxiety does not lie beneath the surfaces of our lives, but in our acceptance--Nietzsche's "Yes"--of the groundless details of those surfaces themselves: the wonder of the ordinary |
Contents
SuperficialOut of Profundity Nietzsches Unwritten Birth of Tragedy | 1 |
The Sublime Scaffolding of Logic and Life Wittgensteins Tractatus | 35 |
Superficial Essentialism Wittgensteins Turn from the Sublime | 79 |
The Wonder of Linguistic Meaning Dont Take It as Obvious | 119 |
The Wonder of Existential Meaning Wittgensteins Daybreak | 163 |
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able accept already answer appearance attempt Birth of Tragedy called Cavell chapter Chicago comes complete concept concern consists continue depth described discover discussion doubt essence ethical example existence existential experience explanation expression fact feeling give given grammar ground human imagine interpretation Investigations kind knowledge language letters limits linguistic lives logic looking mature meaning metaphysical mind natural never Nietzsche Nietzsche's notes objects once Oxford paragraph particular passage peace perhaps phase philosophical PI par picture possible preface present principle problem propositions question reason reference remarks rule Russell seems sense signs simply skepticism speak spirit sublime suggestion surface things thought tion Tractatus true truth trying turn understand University Press whole Wittgenstein wonder writing York