Ludwig Wittgenstein

In his latest work, Miles Hollingworth has turned his attention to one of the greatest modern admirers of Saint Augustine of Hippo: the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. Wittgenstein's influence on post-war philosophical investigation has been pervasive, while his eccentric life has entered the realm of folklore. Yet, his religious mysticism has remained elusive and undisturbed.

In "Ludwig Wittgenstein," Hollingworth continues to pioneer a new kind of biographical writing that stands at the intersection of philosophy, theology, and literary criticism. This approach is as much concerned with the secret agendas of life writing as it is with its subjects. Here, Wittgenstein is allowed to become the ultimate test case.

From first to last, Wittgenstein's philosophy sought to demonstrate that intellectual certainty is a function of the method it employs, rather than a knowledge of the existence or non-existence of its objects. This devastating insight appears to make the natural and the supernatural into equally useless examples of each other.

Hollingworth's biography proceeds in the same way, scattered in every direction by this challenge to meaning. It attempts to retrieve itself around the spirit of the man who could say such things. This act of recovery thus performs what could not otherwise be explained, which is something like Wittgenstein's private conversation with God.

The pervasive influence of Wittgenstein's philosophy and the eccentricity of his life have made him a figure of great interest in the intellectual and cultural landscape. Hollingworth's approach to his biography reflects the complexity of Wittgenstein's thought and the elusive nature of his religious mysticism.

By standing at the intersection of philosophy, theology, and literary criticism, the biography seeks to uncover the secret agendas of life writing and to engage with the ultimate test case that Wittgenstein represents. The challenge to meaning posed by Wittgenstein's insights on intellectual certainty becomes the driving force behind the biography's own attempt to retrieve itself around the spirit of the man.

Hollingworth's pioneering work offers a fresh perspective on Wittgenstein's life and thought, blending the various disciplines to create a unique and compelling exploration of the philosopher's legacy. The biography's performance of what cannot otherwise be explained, echoing Wittgenstein's private conversation with God, adds an additional layer of depth and complexity to the understanding of this influential thinker.

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