@Deckard,
Deckard;165602 wrote: But perhaps W's torment has been overstated in the brief biographical sketches that I have read.
I see him as an electrified man. When he was sure, he was dangerously sure. When he wasn't sure, he was ready to off himself. Now, I
love Wittgenstein. But when someone like Ken, of all people, quotes him as an authority, I find this absurd. Wittgenstein was not, in any way, a "by the book" man. Examine the intro to the TLP. He doesn't bother mentioning his influences, leaning on their "authority." He had no regard for Academic pretensions or pretensions in general. This ridiculously privileged young man was going to
die before accepting inanity. In the pre-Tractatus he is already writing about the ethics of suicide. This doesn't sound like a respectable well-adjusted Mr. Tweeds to me. As a teacher he dressed informally, did not prepare what he would say. Gave an enormous fortune away, remained a prisoner of war when he didn't have to until his troops were also released, live austerely but with extreme aesthetic precision. Was not afraid to criticize Russell who opened so many doors for him.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry when certain types try to assimilate him. G. W. Bush was a Christian. Fred Durst has Cobain's face on his arm.