A New Reading of Russell’s ’Introduction‘ to Wittgenstein’s Tractatus

Abstract

The "Introduction" to the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus has been traditionally
interpreted as if Russell would have presented not only a wrong reading of that book,
but, more importantly, would have confessed the bankruptcy of his philosophy in the
face of Wittgenstein's criticisms. The author argues provocatively that such
interpretation cannot be accepted, shows the originality and pertinence of Russell's
reading of that book, and suggests that the implications of holism for philosophy are
at the very core of it.