The Story of a Ten-Minute Argument

Can a ten minute argument be a stuff for- what “the New Yorker” called“A terrific Book”? Yes, if the argument is between two great philosophers of the last century.David Edmonds and John Eidinow in their work Wittgenstein’s Poker , brings to light in a really interesting manner the in/famous ten minute confrontation between two great philosophers – Ludwig Wittgensteinand Karl Popper .
In 1946, Wittgenstein was working as a professor of Philosophy in Cambridge University and the Chairman of Moral Science Club- a weekly discussion group for the university philosophers and philosophy students. In the same year January , Karl Popper arrives in England as he was offered the readership in Logic and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics , London University .
The stage of confrontation is set, when Wittgenstein chaired Moral Science Club called upon Popper to present the paper “Are there Philosophical Problems?”. Popper started his paper by inviting the attention of the audience to the invitation of the secretary of Moral Science Club “…… a few opening remark, stating some puzzle….”.Popper’s argument is that philosophical problems are not really puzzles but genuine problems . Wittgenstein interrupted and at some point took up a poker and gesticulated rather freely. Disagreement on puzzle Vs problem drew to such a level that , Popper as an example for “moral principle “ gave a situation induced example-“one ought not threaten visiting lecturers with poker” . Wittgenstein left the meting the before the end of the session “slamming the door behind him”, ending a ten-minute long argument.
This book is not only a real exploration into history of Philosophy of the twentieth century but also provides a historical peek into Vienna - Birth place of the two philosophical juggernauts , postwar Cambridge University, and The black days of Nazis occupation of Austria . Authors also provides a detailed analysis of the philosophical statements of Wittgenstein and Popper underlining their position in the philosophical terrain of last century and centuries to come.