Wittgenstein's Poker: The Story of a Ten-Minute Argument Between Two Great Philosophers

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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 University of Cambridge in 1946. It was a bestseller and received positive reviews.^[1][2]

Contents 1 Plot 2 Editions 3 References 4 Further reading

[edit] Plot

On 25 October 1946, Popper (then at the London School of Economics), was invited to present a paper entitled "Are There Philosophical Problems?" at a meeting of the Cambridge Moral Science Club, which was chaired by 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. When challenged by Wittgenstein to state an example of a moral rule, Popper replied "Not to threaten visiting lecturers with pokers", upon which 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 (present at the meeting).

[edit] Editions

• 2001. ISBN 0-06-621244-8. Ecco, Harper Collins, New York.
• 2002. ISBN 0-06-093664-9. Paperback. Ecco, Harper Collins, New York.

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Stephen Juan (2008-01-29). "Philosophers Behaving Badly by Nigel Rodgers and Mel Thompson". Philosophy Now. http://www.philosophynow.org/issue65/65juan.htm. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.