“A philosopher should be a poet”. Ludwig Wittgenstein towards the Dichtung tradition Cover Image

„Filozof powinien być poetą”. Ludwig Wittgenstein wobec tradycji Dichtung
“A philosopher should be a poet”. Ludwig Wittgenstein towards the Dichtung tradition

Author(s): Mateusz Kłosowski
Subject(s): Philosophy, Literary Texts, Poetry, Logic, Social Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego
Keywords: philosophy; poetry; Ludwig Wittgeistein; silence; inexpressible

Summary/Abstract: The work presents how poetic discourse influenced philosophical considerations, discussing selected works and aspects of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s work. It exposes the evolution of thought on the border between philosophy and poetry – from systematic reflection expressed in the convention of the Treatise to fragmentary considerations of the author of the Philosophical Investigations. An important element of the description is the style, language and changing ways of conducting reflection. Placing these elements of Wittgenstein’s work against the background of historical and literary changes is primarily related to exploring the sphere of the inexpressible and the role of silence in literature and philosophy. The key is to point to the tradition of “Dichtung” – poetization as a verb from a noun emphasizes the action in which the text takes on a poetic character – as an important context of Wittgenstein’s work. The work presents the connections between poetry and the philosophy of the Austrian thinker, analyzing the structure of the Logical and Philosophical Treatise, its essential language, and the last thesis encouraging silence. The philosopher’s lyrical inspirations are also presented, as well as his readings. Then, the Philosophical Investigations are analyzed, in which the thinker uses the poetics of fragment. The work ends with the conclusion that poetry is a special medium that connects the expressible and the inexpressible, eliminating the boundary between them.

  • Issue Year: 2026
  • Issue No: 73
  • Page Range: 59-93
  • Page Count: 35
  • Language: Polish
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