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2001 book by David Edmonds and John Eidinow
Wittgenstein's Poker: The Story of a Ten-Minute Argument Between Two Great Philosophers
is a 2001 book by
BBC
journalists
David Edmonds
and John Eidinow about events in the history of
philosophy
involving Sir
Karl Popper
and
Ludwig Wittgenstein
, leading to a confrontation at the
Cambridge University Moral Sciences Club
in 1946.
[1]
The book was a bestseller and received positive reviews.
[2]
[3]
Summary
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On 25 October 1946, Sir
Karl Popper
(at the
London School of Economics
), was invited to present a paper entitled "Are There Philosophical Problems?" at a meeting of the
Cambridge University Moral Sciences Club
, which was chaired by
Ludwig Wittgenstein
. The two started arguing vehemently over whether there existed substantial problems in philosophy, or merely linguistic puzzles?the position taken by Wittgenstein. In Popper's, and the popular account, Wittgenstein used a
fireplace poker
to emphasize his points, gesturing with it as the argument grew more heated. Eventually, Wittgenstein claimed that philosophical problems were non-existent, in response, Popper claimed there were many issues in philosophy, such as setting a basis for moral guidelines. Wittgenstein then thrust the poker at Popper, challenging him to give any example of a
moral rule
, Popper (later) claimed to have said:
Not to threaten visiting lecturers with pokers
[4]
upon which (according to Popper) Wittgenstein threw down the poker and stormed out.
Wittgenstein's Poker
collects and characterizes the accounts of the argument, as well as establishing the context of the careers of Popper, Wittgenstein and
Bertrand Russell
. This meeting was the only time the three were in the same room together. However, its historicity is arguable, and is claimed to have the potential to have been dramatised by Popper.
[5]
The book follows three narrative threads, each pivoting off the 1946 confrontation at Cambridge; the first is a documentary investigation into what precisely took place and the controversy over the differing accounts from observers; the second, a comparative personal history of the philosophers, contrasting their origins in
Vienna
and their differing ascents to philosophical prominence; and thirdly an exploration of the philosophical significance of the disagreement between the two and its relevance for the great debates in the
early 20th century
concerning the
philosophy of language
.
[2]
Editions
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References
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Further reading
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External links
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