Rush Rhees
Encyclopedia
Rush Rhees was a philosopher at Swansea University
from 1940 to 1966
Rhees is principally known as a student, friend, and literary executor
of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein
. With G. E. M. Anscombe
, he edited Wittgenstein's posthumous Philosophical Investigations
(1953), a highly influential work. He was also responsible for bringing out other unpublished writings by Wittgenstein, including Remarks on the Foundations of Mathematics
, Philosophische Bemerkungen, Philosophical Remarks, and Philosophical Grammar.
, the son of Benjamin Rush Rhees
, a Baptist minister, author and president of the University of Rochester
.
He studied philosophy at the University of Rochester, but was expelled in 1922 for insolent questions.
In 1924 he left for Edinburgh where he graduated in 1928.
He became a research fellow at Cambridge in 1932.
At Cambridge he impressed G. E. Moore who described him as his ablest student. Most importantly he met Wittgenstein, who became a close personal friend and continued to visit him after his move to Swansea. Rush Rhees has been known mainly as a Wittgenstein exegete and for his influence on his friends, colleague Peter Winch
and former student and his literary executor D. Z. Phillips
. He was responsible for editing but also developing the legacy left by Wittgenstein, at times emphasising religious and ethical understandings of Wittgenstein's work, reflecting is how Wittgenstein himself sometimes said he wanted to be understood. Together with G. H. von Wright and G. E. M. Anscombe
he was appointed by Wittgenstein as one his literary executor. He was also Wittgenstein's personal executor. He was also influential in bringing the work of other philosophers to greater attention, notably for example the French philosopher Simone Weil.
For a time, he was visiting Professor at King's College London
, and with Winch and Norman Malcolm
formed a 'formidable triumvirate' of Wittgensteinans.
Rhees returned to Swansea in 1982 after the death of his wife, where he continued to teach, leading weekly post-graduate seminars from 1983 and, in the Cambridge tradition, welcoming a few students in 'at home' sessions for more detailed discussions of their research work. He also attended weekly meetings of the Philsophical Society he founded (around 1940) and which counted Wittgenstein as chief amongst those eminent philosophers who addressed it in the years when Rhees was a lecturer at Swansea (retiring in 1966). It was also a forum in which students were expected to test and sharpen their philosophical wits. It was clear in these seminars that Rhees was not only devoted to exegesis of one of the finest thinkers of the twentieth century, but was, in fact, constantly absorbed in developing his own profound insights in Philosophy in repeated tours de force. He was self-effacing of his capacities and had to be persuaded to accept an honorary professorship at Swansea where he had previously turned down promotion during his teaching career. He died in 1989 and is buried in Oystermouth cemetery in Mumbles near Swansea.
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
from 1940 to 1966
Rhees is principally known as a student, friend, and literary executor
Literary executor
A literary executor is a person with decision-making power in respect of a literary estate. According to Wills, Administration and Taxation: a practical guide "A will may appoint different executors to deal with different parts of the estate...
of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was an Austrian philosopher who worked primarily in logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language. He was professor in philosophy at the University of Cambridge from 1939 until 1947...
. With G. E. M. Anscombe
G. E. M. Anscombe
Gertrude Elizabeth Margaret Anscombe , better known as Elizabeth Anscombe, was a British analytic philosopher from Ireland. A student of Ludwig Wittgenstein, she became an authority on his work and edited and translated many books drawn from his writings, above all his Philosophical Investigations...
, he edited Wittgenstein's posthumous Philosophical Investigations
Philosophical Investigations
Philosophical Investigations is, along with the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, one of the most influential works by the 20th-century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein...
(1953), a highly influential work. He was also responsible for bringing out other unpublished writings by Wittgenstein, including Remarks on the Foundations of Mathematics
Remarks on the Foundations of Mathematics
Remarks on the Foundations of Mathematics is a 1953 book of Ludwig Wittgenstein's notes on the philosophy of mathematics, translated from German to English by G.E.M. Anscombe, edited by G.H. von Wright and Rush Rhees, and published first in 1956...
, Philosophische Bemerkungen, Philosophical Remarks, and Philosophical Grammar.
Life
He was born in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, the son of Benjamin Rush Rhees
Benjamin Rush Rhees
Benjamin Rush Rhees was the third president of the University of Rochester, serving from 1900-1935.-Education:Rhees earned his undergraduate degrees from Amherst College where he was a member of Alpha Delta Phi...
, a Baptist minister, author and president of the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
.
He studied philosophy at the University of Rochester, but was expelled in 1922 for insolent questions.
In 1924 he left for Edinburgh where he graduated in 1928.
He became a research fellow at Cambridge in 1932.
At Cambridge he impressed G. E. Moore who described him as his ablest student. Most importantly he met Wittgenstein, who became a close personal friend and continued to visit him after his move to Swansea. Rush Rhees has been known mainly as a Wittgenstein exegete and for his influence on his friends, colleague Peter Winch
Peter Winch
Peter Guy Winch was a British philosopher known for his contributions to the philosophy of social science, Wittgenstein scholarship, ethics, and the philosophy of religion...
and former student and his literary executor D. Z. Phillips
D. Z. Phillips
Dewi Zephaniah Phillips , known as D. Z. Phillips, Dewi Z, or simply DZ, was a leading proponent of Wittgensteinian philosophy of religion and had a long academic career spanning five decades...
. He was responsible for editing but also developing the legacy left by Wittgenstein, at times emphasising religious and ethical understandings of Wittgenstein's work, reflecting is how Wittgenstein himself sometimes said he wanted to be understood. Together with G. H. von Wright and G. E. M. Anscombe
G. E. M. Anscombe
Gertrude Elizabeth Margaret Anscombe , better known as Elizabeth Anscombe, was a British analytic philosopher from Ireland. A student of Ludwig Wittgenstein, she became an authority on his work and edited and translated many books drawn from his writings, above all his Philosophical Investigations...
he was appointed by Wittgenstein as one his literary executor. He was also Wittgenstein's personal executor. He was also influential in bringing the work of other philosophers to greater attention, notably for example the French philosopher Simone Weil.
For a time, he was visiting Professor at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, and with Winch and Norman Malcolm
Norman Malcolm
Norman Malcolm was an American philosopher, born in Selden, Kansas. He studied philosophy with O.K. Bouwsma at the University of Nebraska, then enrolled as a graduate student at Harvard University in 1933....
formed a 'formidable triumvirate' of Wittgensteinans.
Rhees returned to Swansea in 1982 after the death of his wife, where he continued to teach, leading weekly post-graduate seminars from 1983 and, in the Cambridge tradition, welcoming a few students in 'at home' sessions for more detailed discussions of their research work. He also attended weekly meetings of the Philsophical Society he founded (around 1940) and which counted Wittgenstein as chief amongst those eminent philosophers who addressed it in the years when Rhees was a lecturer at Swansea (retiring in 1966). It was also a forum in which students were expected to test and sharpen their philosophical wits. It was clear in these seminars that Rhees was not only devoted to exegesis of one of the finest thinkers of the twentieth century, but was, in fact, constantly absorbed in developing his own profound insights in Philosophy in repeated tours de force. He was self-effacing of his capacities and had to be persuaded to accept an honorary professorship at Swansea where he had previously turned down promotion during his teaching career. He died in 1989 and is buried in Oystermouth cemetery in Mumbles near Swansea.
Major works
- (ed.) Studies in Logic and Probability (1952), a selection of works by George BooleGeorge BooleGeorge Boole was an English mathematician and philosopher.As the inventor of Boolean logic—the basis of modern digital computer logic—Boole is regarded in hindsight as a founder of the field of computer science. Boole said,...
- (ed.) Philosophical Investigations (1953), Wittgenstein
- Without Answers, New York: Schocken Books, (1969)
- Wittgenstein and the Possibility of Discourse (1988)
- On Religion and Philosophy (1997)
- Moral Questions (1999)