The Tree of Knowledge and Other Essays

In an autobiographical introduction the author tells about the two forces which have shaped his intellectual life: philosophy as an academic profession and philosophy as a search for a view of life. The book, accordingly, divides in two parts.
The essays in the first part survey developments in logic and analytical philosophy in the perspective of the closing century and in the light of the author's long experience and participation in them. There are also essays on Musil's criticism of Mach, on the Finnish philosopher Eino Kaila's search for a monistic world view, and on Wittgenstein's place on the cultural map of the century.
The papers in the second part deal with traits of contemporary civilization which have become problematic thanks to the impact of technological developments on political and social forms of life. Humanism, modernity, and scientific rationality are key-ideas taken up for critical scrutiny.

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Finnish philosopher Wright (b. 1916) surveys developments in logic and analytical thought during the period of his involvement in them, and examines traits of contemporary civilization that have become problematic due to the impact of technology on political and social forms, for example, humanism, modernity, and scientific rationality. Most of the 13 essays were originally published or delivered during the late 1980s and early 1990s. No subject index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Georg Henrik von Wright, a Finnish philosopher, held a research Professorship in the Academy of Finland. He was also Professor at Cornell University. His chief publications are A treatise on induction and probability, An Essay in Modal Logic, Logical Studies, Norm and Action, The Varieties of Goodness, Explanation and Understanding, Wittgenstein, Philosophical Papers I-III.