Wittgenstein and the Vienna Circle

Author: Wittgenstein
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Holy Roman Emperor Charles V once mocked the German language, saying it was only fit for talking to horses. This was in the mid-16th century, when Martin Luther pioneered the German language through his translation of the Bible—poet Heinrich Heine said Luther translated the Bible into "a language that had not yet been born." Since then, the German-speaking lands began to take shape as a cultural unit. Germany is often called "the land of the middle" in Europe, and this is at least culturally and academically plausible. Martin Luther established a fine tradition for Germany. Statistical data shows that German is the third most-translated language in the world, after English and French; while in translating other languages into their native tongue, German ranks first in the world—Germany is actually a major translation power today! It seems this Germany aligns with Lu Xun's ideals: it can both "imitate" and "create." This ideal naturally also means: it cannot "imitate" nor "create." Lu Xun also said: If you don't "take in" and don't "imitate" anymore, you will remain helpless and hopeless, ultimately just "filled with resentment." The purpose of our "Tongji·German Culture Series" is to embody Lu Xun's ideals: to combine imitation and creation. The series is accordingly divided into two series: "Translated Works" and "Original Works," plus the annual journal Journal of German Studies. As long as the books and articles are good, the categories are not strictly limited, but poetry (and philosophy) are given priority—this also responds to Humboldt's teachings: the eternal achievements of a nation's literature (culture) are first and foremost poetry and philosophy. The series is marked with the words "Tongji," of course, to highlight our university's historical ties with Germany, German language, and German culture, but it is by no means restrictive—it is instead an invitation to academic colleagues to extend their "Tongji hands" and work together to advance the translation and research of German culture in China. This book is edited based on the notes of Friedrich Waismann, a follower of the 20th-century philosopher Wittgenstein, vividly recording conversations between Wittgenstein and members of the Vienna Circle, such as Moritz Schlick and Rudolf Carnap, from 1929 to 1932. The topics cover philosophy, logic, mathematics, and more. The "appendix" compiled by Waismann provides an outline, which is highly beneficial for understanding Wittgenstein's philosophy.