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ENGEL, S.M., Wittgenstein's Doctrine of the Tyranny of Language. An Historial and Critical Examination of his Blue Book. With an Introduction by St. Toulmin. Nijhoff, The Hague, 1971. XVII,144p. Sewn. Front cover a bit creased. ‘Engel’s main thesis is that Wittgenstein derived certain of his most important doctrines from Kant and Schopenhauer, especially that language has limitations that lead to philosophical confusions. (…) Engel presents many passages from Kant and Schopenhauer aligned with passages from Wittgenstein that are strikingly similar. This is impressive. After Engel’s review of the most important secondary works on Wittgenstein, with their paucity of references or comparisons between Wittgenstein and classic philosophers, we can appreciate the need for Engel’s book. However, Engel proves less that Wittgenstein was directly influenced by Kant and Shopenhauer than that there are some striking similarities. (…) Engel’s subtitle is misleading. The ‘Blue Book’ is less central an object of concern than suggested. (…) consequently, though he is to be praised for bringing forward often neglected or unnoticed similarities of Wittgenstein to Kant and Schopenhauer, other professed aims of Engel’s book are both poorly drawn and executed.’ (MARTINA A. BERTMAN in Philosophy and Rhetoric, 1975, pp.131-33). € 25.00 (Antiquarian)