Wittgenstein

This essay is the last work by the distinguished philosopher Norman Malcolm, before his death in the summer of 1990. Malcolm first draws together a large collection of remarks made by Wittgenstein at various stages of his life, and in many different contexts, which are expressive of his attitude to religion. He discusses both some of the ways in which Wittgenstein was drawn to religious ways of thinking, and also speculates on the barriers which kept him from full religious commitment. Malcolm connects these barriers with Wittgenstein's commitment to philosophy. He discusses what he takes to be the most important features of Wittgestein's philosophical work, and the nature of and reasons for the changes which took place in his thinking between "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus" and "Philosophical Investigations". He highlights those features which he takes to be most relevant to Wittgenstein's attitude to religion.