Journeys with Tim

Wittgenstein's poker

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Philosophers love anecdotes and one of the best involves Ludwig Wittgenstein, Karl Popper, and a fire poker. It begins when Popper, as an invited speaker at Cambridge, is giving a talk to a small group of professors and students, including Wittgenstein.

Accounts differ, but most seem to agree that as Popper was talking, Wittgenstein engages him and picks up a poker to demonstrate a point. When the talk gets around to ethics Wittgenstein relentlessly challenges Popper when he finally says, "Give me one example of a moral rule," at which point Popper says, "Do not threaten visiting lecturers with pokers." Beside himself with anger, Wittgenstein slams down the poker and storms out, slamming the door.

The "incident" as it as come to be known was really a bomb waiting to go off, but you can read about that here.

Posted by Tim at November 30, 2003 09:30 PM