Philosophical grammar

More about the book

Wittgenstein composed this work between 1932 and 1934, just prior to dictating the Blue Book. In Part I, he explores concepts such as "proposition," "sense," "language," and "grammar," examining what it means to "say something" and how signs differ from random marks or noises. He questions whether we must begin with "primary" signs that require no explanation and considers the general concept of proposition or language. The ideas of "family of cases" and "family similarities," later used in the Investigations, are present here, highlighting the evolution of his thought. While it shares similarities with the Investigations and the Philosophische Bemerkungen, this work stands independently, addressing topics not covered in either. It offers Wittgenstein's most comprehensive examination of logic and mathematics, linking them to his later views on "proposition," "sign," and "system." In Part II, he critiques the perspectives of Frege and Russell, as well as his earlier views, while developing concepts such as "law of a series" and "… and so on." His extensive discussion on mathematics occupies two-fifths of the volume, delving into the "foundations of mathematics," cardinal numbers, mathematical proof, and particularly inductive or recursive proofs, referencing Skolem and expanding on these ideas more thoroughly than in any previous works.