Lectures and Conversations on Aesthetics, Psychology and Religious Belief

TLDR

Wittgenstein delivered a 1938 Cambridge lecture series on aesthetics, and little is known of his views on these subjects, making these notes valuable to contemporary philosophy students. The volume compiles students’ notes from Wittgenstein’s lectures, supplemented by recorded conversations on Freud and religious belief. The informal style of the notes makes Wittgenstein more approachable for readers intimidated by his Tractatus and Philosophical Investigations.

Abstract

In 1938 Wittgenstein delivered a short course of lectures on aesthetics to a small group of students at Cambridge. The present volume has been compiled from notes taken down at the time by three of the students: Rush Rhees, Yorick Smythies, and James Taylor. They have been supplemented by notes of conversations on Freud (to whom reference was made in the course on aesthetics) between Wittgenstein and Rush Rhees, and by notes of some lectures on religious belief. As very little is known of Wittgenstein's views on these subjects from his published works, these notes should be of considerable interest to students of contemporary philosophy. Further, their fresh and informal style should recommend Wittgenstein to those who find his Tractatus and Philosophical Investigations a little formidable.