One or two Wittgensteins?

Question

It is common opinion that Wittgenstein has two main different periods which are best exemplified by the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and the Philosophical Investigations and that these periods are highly contradictory. I remember however that a terrific professor, who was my mentor in political philosophy during college, argued that there is a way to read Wittgenstein as a continuation and not a contradiction.

Unfortunately, I lost contact with this professor, so I would like to know if anyone here is familiarized with this argument and can recommend me a good reference to learn more about it. If you also want to comment on why you think it is possible to understand Wittgenstein's work as a continuum or why it is impossible, it will be great.

Answer 1

A professor of mine (this guy) once mentioned that Cora Diamond is an advocate of that 'continuum' reading of Wittgenstein. A recent collection edited by Alice Crary and Rupert Read includes a number of such interpretations of Wittgenstein's work (including Diamond's). The interpretations featured in that collection have become collectively known as the "New Wittgenstein". Perhaps your professor had one of those interpretations in mind.