‎"WITTGENSTEIN, LUDWIG.‎
‎Preliminary Studies for the ""Philosophical Investigations"". Generally Known as the Blue and Brown Books‎

‎Oxford, Basil Blackwell, 1958. 8vo. In the original clothbinding with gilt lettering to spine. Sunning to spine and upper part of boards, otherwise a nice and clean copy. XIV, (2), 185 pp. ‎

Reference : 62877

‎Reprint of Wittgenstein's important works which mark a turning point in philosophy of language, the ""Blue Books"" and the ""Brown Book"".The two works constitute two sets of notes dictated to two small groups of students in 1934 and 1935. Only a handful of both works (The Brown Book was only made in three copies) initially appeared and only very few close friends and pupils were allowed to see them, but because of the seminal character of these new works by one of the greatest living philosopher, who had otherwise refused to publicize anything, some of the students that were allowed to borrow copies, made their own and circulated them in their own circles. It is not known exactly how many copies were made, but the practice continued for many years through many different means of reproduction, until the works were finally published in 1958. All of these copies vary from each other and all of them vary in some extent to the published text. It is nearly impossible to determine when a copy was produced, if there is not an owner's name in the copy that can be traced back to a specific period. Our copy has no such owner's name that can help identify the date of production. Should the ""J. Cohen"" on the front wrapper be the mathematician Paul Joseph Cohen, the great mathematician, then he has clearly acquired this copy much later than the production of it. It is clear, however, that the two works assembled here were not produced together or at the same time, and they were clearly put together and bound later.These two works constitute a turning point in philosophy of language and Wittgenstein here foreshadows many of his later thoughts on language that were elaborated in ""Philosohische Untersuchungen"".‎