Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Ludwig Josef Johan Wittgenstein: A British philosopher of Austrian birth, widely regarded as one of the most important philosophers of the 20th century. His work profoundly influenced the development of logic, the philosophy of language, and logical positivism.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The philosophical ideas of Ludwig Josef Johan Wittgenstein are central to understanding modern analytic philosophy.
  • In his later work, Ludwig Josef Johan Wittgenstein shifted his focus from the logical structure of language to its ordinary use.

Advanced Usage

• The name is often shortened to "Ludwig Wittgenstein" or simply "Wittgenstein" in philosophical discourse.
  • Wittgenstein's "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus" is a seminal text.
• The phrase "Wittgensteinian" is used as an adjective to describe ideas, themes, or methods relating to his philosophy.
  • Her approach to language has a distinctly Wittgensteinian flavor.

Variants and Related Words

• Wittgenstein (n): The common abbreviated form of the philosopher's surname.
• Wittgensteinian (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of Wittgenstein or his philosophy.

Synonyms

• Philosopher of language: A general term describing his primary area of influence.
• Logical positivist: Associated with the philosophical movement he significantly impacted, particularly through his early work.

Related Phrases

• "To do a Wittgenstein" (informal, academic): To radically change one's philosophical position, akin to Wittgenstein's shift between his early and later work.
  • After reading the new data, he completely revised his theory; he really did a Wittgenstein.

Noun

1. British philosopher born in Austria; a major influence on logic and logical positivism (1889-1951)