'Wittgenstein's Ladder' by David Lehman
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"My propositions serve as elucidations in the following way:
anyone who understands them eventually recognizes them as
nonsensical, when he has used them -- as steps -- to climb
up beyond them. (He must, so to speak, throw away the ladder
after he has climbed up it.)" -- Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus
1.
The first time I met Wittgenstein, I was
late. "The traffic was murder," I explained.
He spent the next forty-five minutes
analyzing this sentence. Then he was silent.
I wondered why he had chosen a water tower
for our meeting. I also wondered how
I would leave, since the ladder I had used
to climb up here had fallen to the ground.
2.
Wittgenstein served as a machine-gunner
in the Austrian Army in World War I.
Before the war he studied logic in Cambridge
with Bertrand Russell. Having inherited
his father's fortune (iron and steel), he
gave away his money, not to the poor, whom
it would corrupt, but to relations so rich
it would not thus affect them.
3.
On leave in Vienna in August 1918
he assembled his notebook entries
into the Tractatus, Since it provided
the definitive solution to all the problems
of philosophy, he decided to broaden
his interests. He became a schoolteacher,
then a gardener's assistant at a monastery
near Vienna. He dabbled in architecture.
4.
He returned to Cambridge in 1929,
receiving his doctorate for the Tractatus,
"a work of genius," in G. E. Moore's opinion.
Starting in 1930 he gave a weekly lecture
and led a weekly discussion group. He spoke
without notes amid long periods of silence.
Afterwards, exhausted, he went to the movies
and sat in the front row. He liked Carmen Miranda.
5.
He would visit Russell's rooms at midnight
and pace back and forth "like a caged tiger.
On arrival, he would announce that when
he left he would commit suicide. So, in spite
of getting sleepy, I did not like to turn him out." On
such a night, after hours of dead silence, Russell said,
"Wittgenstein, are you thinking about logic or about
yours sins?" "Both," he said, and resumed his silence.
6.
Philosophy was an activity, not a doctrine.
"Solipsism, when its implications are followed out
strictly, coincides with pure realism," he wrote.
Dozens of dons wondered what he meant. Asked
how he knew that "this color is red," he smiled
and said, "because I have learnt English." There
were no other questions. Wittgenstein let the
silence gather. Then he said, "this itself is the answer."
7.
Religion went beyond the boundaries of language,
yet the impulse to run against "the walls of our cage,"
though "perfectly, absolutely useless," was not to be
dismissed. A. J. Ayer, one of Oxford's ablest minds,
was puzzled. If logic cannot prove a nonsensical
conclusion, why didn't Wittgenstein abandon it,
"along with the rest of metaphysics, as not worth
serious attention, except perhaps for sociologists"?
8.
Because God does not reveal himself in this world, and
"the value of this work," Wittgenstein wrote, "is that
it shows how little is achieved when these problems
are solved." When I quoted Gertrude Stein's line
about Oakland, "there's no there there," he nodded.
Was there a there, I persisted. His answer: Yes and No.
It was as impossible to feel another's person's pain
as to suffer another person's toothache.
9.
At Cambridge the dons quoted him reverently.
I asked them what they thought was his biggest
contribution to philosophy. "Whereof one cannot
speak, thereof one must be silent," one said.
Others spoke of his conception of important
nonsense. But I liked best the answer John
Wisdom gave: "His asking of the question
`Can one play chess without the queen?'"
10.
Wittgenstein preferred American detective
stories to British philosophy. He liked lunch
and didn't care what it was, "so long as it was
always the same," noted Professor Malcolm
of Cornell, a former student, in whose house
in Ithaca Wittgenstein spent hours doing
handyman chores. He was happy then.
There was no need to say a word.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Wittgenstein's Ladder: A Philosophical Journey through Words
David Lehman's Wittgenstein's Ladder is a poem that explores the intricate relationship between language, thought, and reality. Inspired by the philosophical musings of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Lehman takes the reader on a journey through the complexities of language and its ability to shape our perception of the world around us. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, motifs, and imagery present in Wittgenstein's Ladder and how they contribute to the poem's overall message.
The Power of Language
At its core, Wittgenstein's Ladder is a poem about the power of language. Lehman uses language as a tool to explore the limits of language itself, and the ways in which it can both reveal and obscure our understanding of reality. The poem is structured around a series of vignettes, each of which presents a different scenario in which language plays a central role.
In the first vignette, Lehman asks us to imagine a ladder that stretches infinitely into the sky. He tells us that the ladder represents language, and that we use it to climb our way up to an understanding of the world around us. However, he also warns us that the ladder has its limits, and that we must be careful not to climb too high, lest we lose our grip and fall back to earth.
This metaphorical ladder serves as a powerful symbol for the role of language in shaping our understanding of the world. The ladder represents the process of language acquisition and the gradual accumulation of knowledge that comes with it. However, it also reminds us that language is not an infallible tool for understanding reality, but rather a flawed and imperfect system that can only take us so far.
The Limits of Language
Throughout the poem, Lehman returns to the idea that language has its limits. He explores the ways in which language can obscure as much as it reveals, and the difficulties we face in trying to use language to convey our thoughts and emotions. In one vignette, he describes a man who is unable to express his love for a woman, despite his best efforts. He tells us that "words are insufficient" and that "the heart knows what the tongue cannot say."
This theme of language's limitations is central to Wittgenstein's philosophy, and Lehman does an excellent job of exploring it within the context of the poem. He reminds us that language is not an all-encompassing tool for understanding the world, but rather a flawed and incomplete system that is always in the process of becoming.
The Role of Perception
Another key theme present in Wittgenstein's Ladder is the role of perception in shaping our understanding of reality. Lehman explores the ways in which our perceptions are shaped by language, and the difficulties we face in trying to break free from the limitations of our own perceptions.
In one vignette, Lehman describes a man who is unable to see the color blue, despite the fact that it is all around him. He tells us that "the language he knows does not have a word for blue," and that as a result, he is unable to perceive it. This vignette serves as a powerful reminder of the ways in which our perceptions are shaped by our linguistic and cultural contexts, and the challenges we face in trying to see beyond them.
The Importance of Context
Throughout the poem, Lehman emphasizes the importance of context in shaping our understanding of language and reality. He reminds us that words only have meaning within a specific context, and that the meaning of a word can shift depending on the context in which it is used.
In one vignette, Lehman describes a man who is lost in a foreign country and unable to communicate with the locals. He tells us that "his words are empty" and that he is unable to convey his thoughts or emotions. This vignette serves as a powerful reminder of the ways in which context shapes our understanding of language, and the difficulties we face in trying to communicate across linguistic and cultural barriers.
The Beauty of Language
Despite the limitations of language, Lehman also emphasizes its beauty and power. He reminds us that language has the ability to evoke powerful emotions and images, and that it can be a source of great beauty and inspiration.
Throughout the poem, Lehman uses vivid and evocative imagery to bring his words to life. He describes the "dusky depths of a summer night," the "crimson splendor of the setting sun," and the "golden glow of a winter sunrise." These images serve as a reminder of the beauty and power of language, and the ways in which it can transport us to new worlds of meaning and understanding.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Wittgenstein's Ladder is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the intricate relationship between language, thought, and reality. Through its exploration of the limitations of language, the role of perception, the importance of context, and the beauty of language itself, the poem offers a powerful reminder of the complexities of the human experience. Lehman's use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language serves to bring the poem to life, and to remind us of the power and beauty of words.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Wittgenstein's Ladder: An Analysis of David Lehman's Classic Poem
David Lehman's poem, Wittgenstein's Ladder, is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It is a complex and thought-provoking work that explores the nature of language, meaning, and truth. The poem is named after the famous philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, who is known for his work on the philosophy of language. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and meaning.
The poem begins with the lines, "The ladder of language / is a rickety thing / with missing rungs / and no handhold at the top." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the limitations of language. The ladder of language is a metaphor for the way in which we use language to communicate and understand the world around us. The ladder is "rickety" because it is not a perfect tool for communication. There are "missing rungs" and "no handhold at the top," which means that there are gaps in our understanding of the world, and that we can never fully grasp the truth.
The poem goes on to explore the idea that language is a tool that we use to construct meaning. The lines, "We construct meaning / the way spiders spin webs / from the inside out," suggest that meaning is not something that exists independently of us, but rather something that we create through our use of language. The metaphor of the spider spinning a web is a powerful one, as it suggests that meaning is something that is woven together, rather than something that is fixed and unchanging.
The poem also explores the idea that language is a tool that we use to create our own reality. The lines, "We make our own reality / by the words we use," suggest that the way in which we use language shapes the way in which we see the world. This idea is central to the philosophy of language, and it is something that Wittgenstein himself explored in his work.
The poem then takes a darker turn, as it explores the idea that language can be used to deceive and manipulate. The lines, "We can lie with words / as easily as we can tell the truth," suggest that language is not always a tool for communication, but can also be a tool for manipulation. This idea is particularly relevant in today's world, where we are bombarded with information from a variety of sources, and where the truth can be difficult to discern.
The poem then returns to the idea that language is a tool that we use to construct meaning. The lines, "We construct meaning / the way children build sandcastles / on the beach," suggest that meaning is something that is constantly changing and evolving. The metaphor of the sandcastle is a powerful one, as it suggests that meaning is something that is fragile and impermanent.
The poem then ends with the lines, "The ladder of language / is a rickety thing / but we climb it anyway." These lines suggest that despite the limitations of language, we continue to use it as a tool for communication and understanding. The ladder may be "rickety," but we continue to climb it because it is the only tool that we have.
In terms of structure, the poem is divided into six stanzas, each of which consists of three lines. The use of short stanzas and lines gives the poem a sense of urgency and immediacy. The poem is also written in free verse, which allows Lehman to explore his ideas without being constrained by traditional poetic forms.
In conclusion, Wittgenstein's Ladder is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the limitations of language. The poem is a meditation on the way in which we use language to construct meaning, create our own reality, and communicate with others. The poem is also a warning about the dangers of language, and the way in which it can be used to deceive and manipulate. Overall, Wittgenstein's Ladder is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and a testament to the power of language to shape our understanding of the world.
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