Wittgenstein is one of a handful of philosophers remarkable by their
almost complete reversal of positions in life. Each had some some kind
of traumatic breakdown then an epiphany of post-traumatic growth.
Sartre started somewhere near "Hell is other people" and ended up in
the vicinity of "emancipation can only happen through each other".
Wittgenstein's change is so profound that his work is now interpreted
as "early Wittgenstein" and "late Wittgenstein", because they may as
well be two different philosophers.
As I read it, both Sartre and Wittgenstein had obsessive blocks in
their youth, which they overcame to become wiser, more rounded
people. Perhaps their early works were necessary mistakes to achieve
their great works. Sartre was hung-up on individualistic freedom so
much he resented the mere existence of others' thoughts. Later he
transformed into a deeply compassionate man. Wittgenstein was
possessed by a need to objectively formalise and structure everything,
but gave in to an acceptance of relativism and fluidity. His later
ideas are a big contribution to cognitive linguistics and study of
consciousness - precisely in the ways that it is _unlike_ mathematical
logic.
I feel that many of us digital technologists could learn a lot from
these journeys. Letting go of the need to reduce, control, manage and
organise everything is the path maturity. We may end up less right,
make less money, have fewer users... but we will make technology that
is more useful to humanity.
As I read it, both Sartre and Wittgenstein had obsessive blocks in their youth, which they overcame to become wiser, more rounded people. Perhaps their early works were necessary mistakes to achieve their great works. Sartre was hung-up on individualistic freedom so much he resented the mere existence of others' thoughts. Later he transformed into a deeply compassionate man. Wittgenstein was possessed by a need to objectively formalise and structure everything, but gave in to an acceptance of relativism and fluidity. His later ideas are a big contribution to cognitive linguistics and study of consciousness - precisely in the ways that it is _unlike_ mathematical logic.
I feel that many of us digital technologists could learn a lot from these journeys. Letting go of the need to reduce, control, manage and organise everything is the path maturity. We may end up less right, make less money, have fewer users... but we will make technology that is more useful to humanity.