Ludwig Wittgenstein was one of the Twentieth Century’s most influential philosophers. However reading his work can be quite difficult, and sorting out the many controversies regarding its interpretation can be mind-boggling. Much of the difficulty stems from Wittgenstein’s unique approach to philosophy. Whatever might be said about his methods and the reasons for them, they are certainly non-traditional. A guidebook can be a help and there are several that are first rate. Ray Monk’s biography Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius is a great place to start. Janik and Toulmin’s Wittgenstein’s Vienna is also recommended, as is H. O Mounce’s Wittgenstein’s Tractatus: An Introduction. Finally I would also like to plug my own work: Reading Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations: A Beginners Guide. In the end there is no substitute for reading the text itself.
Here I’ve uploaded a small intro to Wittgenstein’s work that should get the undergraduate started.
drjohnross 