Daily Mail article Few people can have thought as deeply on Wittgensteins reflections on other minds and on understanding people as Constantine Sandis. His essays exhibit wide knowledge of the confusions of philosophers, psychologists and cognitive neuroscientists, as well as exemplary sensitivity to the complexity, cultural relativity and context dependence of human relations.Peter Hacker, St. Johns College, Oxford. A rich and readable collection of essays that is concerned not with the traditional problem of other minds, but with the ordinary obstacles to understanding others, and how we should understand the failures to connect which characterise the human condition. Although Wittgenstein is the dominant influence in the essays, Sandis also draws on a wide range of Wittgenstein interpreters, philosophical, literary and historical sources, which he uses in developing his own distinctive view of what is involved in understanding, and failing to understand, others.Marie McGinn, Professor Emerita, University of York Among the many eminent commentators that have shed light on Wittgensteins thought, Constantine Sandis stands out by dint of the extraordinary range of his interests and his ability to think and write outside the box. The title of this collection nicely captures both this open- mindedness and a unifying theme namely the challenges involved in trying to understand subjects which are or at least seem to be remote from our own parochial perspective. These subjects range from human individuals and communities through non-human animals Wittgensteins famous speaking lion to works of art and artificial systems. In all of these cases, Sandis sheds invaluable light, in a prose that is both lucid and precise, and often displays a puckish sense of humour. Essential reading for anyone interested in the importance of Wittgensteins work in contemporary hermeneutic themes. Professor Hans-Johann Glock, Department of Philosophy, University of Zurich In this collection of essays, Constantine Sandis reminds us that there is a lot more to the philosophical issue of other minds than the sceptical question of their existence. He expertly explores some of Wittgensteins fascinating remarks on the difficulties of understanding other people. The essays are lucidly written, well-informed and insightful.Severin Schroeder, the University of Reading, UK Constantine Sandis is a leading expert on the philosophy of Wittgenstein and also a serious and original philosopher in his own right. These engaging and persuasive essays address the question of how we can understand those alien to us, be they humans, animals or artworks. An invaluable contribution in an age of conflict and dissent.Edward Kanterian, Emeritus Reader in Philosophy, University of Kent, UK Constantine Sandiss remarkable new book offers a fascinating journey, and a true testament to the transformational power of Wittgensteins philosophy. Sophisticated yet accessible, these seductively curious essays scrutinise Wittgensteins views on the so-called problem of other minds. It is a truly important book we can all learn from.Lambros Malafouris, the University of Oxford, UK In this enthralling collection of essays, Constantine Sandis presents us with a highly original, multifaceted discussion of Wittgensteins approach to understanding others. By subtly departing from mainstream themes, Sandis succeeds in illuminating a most urgent, personal and philosophical Wittgensteinian concern: what it is to understand (rather than know) one another.Chon Tejedor, Profesora de Filosofía, Universitat de València, Spain With an impressive command of the literature on understanding others, Sandis explores the later Wittgensteins enigmatic remarks, providing a multi-layered context in which to appreciate them. From a lion who can talk, to conversations with machines, to the songs of Bob Dylan, this revised compilation of Sandiss essays presents an excellent contribution to Wittgenstein Studies. Julia Tanney, Independent Researcher
More information about ebooks