Description
Book SynopsisMysticism and Architecture: Wittgenstein and the Palais Stonborough is a multi-disciplinary study of the Viennese palais that the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein helped design and build for his sister shortly after he abandoned philosophy for more practical activities and during the period that supposedly separates his ''early'' from his ''late'' philosophy. Weaving together discussions of a number of social, political, and cultural developments that helped to give fin-de-si_cle Vienna its character including the late modernization of Austrian society, industry, and economy; the construction of Vienna''s Ringstrasse; the slow decay of the Hapsburg monarchy; and the failure of Austrian liberalism; as well as Tolstoy''s religiously-based ethical views; Adolf Loos''s critique of architectural ornament; Karl Kraus''s analysis of Vienna''s decadence; Kierkegaard''s and Nestroy''s views on the importance of indirect communication; Otto Weininger''s theory of the nature and duty of genius; C
Trade ReviewPaden's otherwise salutary contributions to an understanding of Wittgenstein's ethics and aesthetic concerns here serve to efface fundamental shifts that undoubtedly took place in his philosophical development. Paden's book is thus interesting and ambitious... * H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online *
