THE PLAN 9 BOOK CLUB FROM OUTER SPACE ... READS WITTGENSTEIN!

The Plan 9 Book Club from Outer Space has been in operation since 2016, studying the most important works in modern western Philosophy. To date, we’ve studied the major works of Hume, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, and Sartre.

We are now beginning a study of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations. We meet every Tuesday evening, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, to carry on in-depth discussions of the text. This is a discussion group, not a lecture class.

We hold our meetings IN-PERSON at the Austin Recreation Center, 1301 Shoal Creek Boulevard: https://www.google.com/maps/place/30%C2%B016'41.4%22N+97%C2%B044'56.3%22W/@30.2781667,-97.7511609,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d30.27816!4d-97.74897 .

Most Tuesdays, after studying Wittgenstein, several of us will continue the discussion over nachos and beer, down the street at The Tavern. The food and drink are optional, of course, but the conversation is always strong!

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As I mentioned, Plan 9 is a group that likes to do deep studies of our book choices. We discuss, in detail, the week's reading assignment--mastering the new concepts and fitting them into the author’s overall thesis. The goal is to gain an understanding of the author’s philosophy. Our discussion of Philosophical Investigations will take place over several meetings. I estimate that we’ll spend 6 to 10 weeks in detailed discussion of the text—working out the themes and the meanings of Wittgenstein’s masterpiece.

You may read from either the Anscombe translation, the newer Hacker/Schulte translation, or both.

Some of our members have chosen also to read the commentary titled The Routledge Guidebook to Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations, by Marie McGinn. McGinn will provide much-needed background information that is important for understanding the Wittgenstein book. (McGinn uses the Hacker/Schulte translation). Any other references that you may wish to use are welcomed.

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Each week, we share what we’ve learned from Wittgenstein and from our companion books in an effort to attain full understanding of Philosophical Investigations and its position within the realm of philosophical thought.

If this sort of work interests you, sign up here and join us. We have about ten regular members, and new people have come and gone over the years. Everyone is more than welcome to join in.

Cheers,
Leonard