Friedrich Waismann - Causality and Logical Positivism

This fresh assessment of Waismann's contribution to philosophy sheds light on his independent contributions to the field, separate from his role as spokesman for Ludwig Wittgenstein. It collates a good deal of material that, previously, had been scattered.

Friedrich Waismann (18961959) was one of the most gifted students and collaborators of Moritz Schlick. Accepted as a discussion partner by Wittgenstein from 1927 on, he functioned as spokesman for the latter's ideas in the Schlick Circle, until Wittgenstein's contact with this most faithful interpreter was broken off in 1935 and not renewed when exile took Waismann to Cambridge. Nonetheless, at Oxford, where he went in 1939, and eventually became Reader in Philosophy of Mathematics (changing later to Philosophy of Science), Waismann made important and independent contributions to analytic philosophy and philosophy of science (for example in relation to probability, causality and linguistic analysis). The full extent of these only became evident later when the larger (unpublished) part of his writings could be studied. His first posthumous work The Principles of Linguistic Philosophy (1965, 2nd edn.1997; German 1976) and his earlier Einführung in das mathematische Denken (1936) have recently proved of fresh interest to the scientific community. This late flowering and new understanding of Waismann's position is connected with the fact that he somewhat unfairly fell under the shadow of Wittgenstein, his mentor and predecessor. Central to this book about a life and work familiar to few is unpublished and unknown works on causality and probability. These are commented on in this volume, which will also include a publication of new or previously scattered material and an overview of Waismann's life.

A new understanding of Waismann's position in philosophy Sheds light on Waismannn's independent and inventive contributions to philosophy apart from his temporary function as Wittgenstein's spokesman Includes a publication of new or previously scattered material

Inhalt

Friedrich Waismann:

The Decline and Fall of Causality,-A Philosopher Looks at Kafka,- Causality,-The Logical Force of Expressions,- Tributes and Impressions,-

Mathieu Marion Waismann's Lectures on Causality: An Introduction,-Alexander Bird Waismann Versus Ewing on Causality,- Brian McGuinness Waismann: the Wandering Scholar,-Joachim Schulte Waismann as Spokesman for Wittgenstein,-Juha Manninen Waismann's Testimony of Wittgenstein's Fresh Starts in 193135,- Wolfgang Kienzler Waismann's Conception of Philosophy,- Michael Heidelberger Waismann on Causality and Probability
General Part:
Report Documentation:
*Hadwig Kraeutler/ Corinna Oesch/ Günther Sandner

• Otto Neurath's 'Encyclopedia of the World War': A Contextualisation, -Christoph Limbeck-Lilienau Logical Syntax and the Application of Mathematics
  Reviews
  Obituary: Stephen Toulmin,- Activities of the InstituteVienna Circle.