If we take eternity to mean not infinite temporal duration but timelessness, then eternal life belongs to those who live in the present.
ludwig Wittgensteinquotes
1889 - 1951
With his fame spreading far beyond academia, Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) is considered one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century, and his work central to analytic philosophy. Poets, playwrights, filmmakers, and artists of all kinds have been fascinated by the British philosopher’s work and charismatic personality. Though suicide tempted him in life, when he did die from prostate cancer in 1951, Wittgenstein’s last words were, “Tell them I’ve had a wonderful life.”
After studying aerodynamics and reading works of Bertrand Russell, Wittgenstein became obsessed with logic. He went to Trinity College to study under Russell and they formed a strong bond. He wrote voraciously at this time and developed what came to be known as his “picture theory of meaning.” However, always the perfectionist, he published nothing.
Wittgenstein didn’t believe an honest philosopher should stay in academia, so he joined the military, worked as a gardener, and as a schoolmaster as well. “Genius or death” was his mantra. So strong was his stance that man must free himself from earthly desires and attain his genius at the expense of all else.
Obsessed with creating a work of genius, when Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus was published, he wrote that he had solved all the essential problems of philosophy. Later, he acknowledged there was more to know. Now, he viewed philosophy not as a construct of theories, but as an activity to clear up the misunderstandings of language. There is no correct doctrine, he said, only clear views (Philosophical Investigations). Most of his works were published posthumously, with many still awaiting publication.
I am sitting with a philosopher in the garden; he says again and again ‘I know that that’s a tree’, pointing to a tree that is near us. Someone else arrives and hears this, and I tell him: ‘This fellow isn’t insane. We are only doing philosophy.
Only describe, don’t explain.
Don’t for heaven’s sake, be afraid of talking nonsense! But you must pay attention to your nonsense.
If people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done.
Nothing is so difficult as not deceiving oneself.
The real question of life after death isn’t whether or not it exists, but even if it does what problem this really solves.
I am my world.
Hell isn’t other people. Hell is yourself.
Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.