Dear Old Blood: Notes on a Wittgenstein Noir

This opening episode includes the book's introduction, epigraph and preface, as well as the first chapter of the purported Wittgenstein hardboiled noir detective story, 'Dear Old Blood', which the academic Herbert Denk claims to have discovered. It finishes with a series of end notes including:the title 'Dear Old Blood'the detective's name, Nixthe reference to the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicusthe similarities between philosophy and detection

Horace Murgatroyd continues his reading of rogue academic Herbert Denk's 'find of the century' - the purported hardboiled noir written by Ludwig Wittgenstein. In it, our investigator Nix follows the 'wise guy' philosopher Godwit into a meeting of the Cambridge Apostles. End notes include:Cambridge ApostlesSchubert liederthe Philosopher KingsStreet & Smith Detective Story Magazine (Fig. 1, of the July 1948 issue, mentioned in the recording below)

In this episode of Horace Murgatroyd's reading of the so-called Wittgenstein 'noir', the private investigator Nix meets his nemesis, Lan, now in the guise of a torch singer. The mystery deepens with the appearance of a 'bloody curious bird'. End notes include:Wittgenstein's musical tastesGestalt theoryKing LearKarl PopperNorbert Davis' Rendezvous with FearGerard Manley HopkinsAnti-philosophyQuestions and queries to: horacemurgatroyd@gmail.com

In this episode of Horace Murgatroyd's reading and commentaries on the so-called Wittgenstein 'noir', the private investigator Nix attends a Godwit lecture, gets closer to the mysterious duck-rabbit and does his first 'dead drop'. End notes include:Pennhurst David Pinsent's deathQuestions and queries to: horacemurgatroyd@gmail.com

In this episode of Horace Murgatroyd's reading and commentaries on the purported Wittgenstein noir 'Dear OId Blood', Godwit has two new interests - a young man and westerns, forcing Nix to watch both of them. A final twist will lead the private investigator much further afield. There are no end notes for this episode.NB. The previous episode (Episode 5) was given this title in error - this is the correct episode/title match for Episode 6, and episode 5 now has the correct title of 'The Next Day I Woke Up Early'. Questions and queries to: horacemurgatroyd@gmail.com

In this episode of Horace Murgatroyd's reading and commentaries on the purported Wittgenstein noir 'Dear OId Blood', Nix follows Godwit to his Norwegian hut. As he gets closer to this mountainous retreat, the private investigator discovers he's not the only one pursuing the philosopher. End notes include:Wittgenstein's hut in Skjolden, Norway (see photo below)The phrase 'it comes to you perhaps as a friend and not as an enemy' Questions and queries to: horacemurgatroyd@gmail.com

In this episode of Horace Murgatroyd's reading and commentaries on the purported Wittgenstein noir 'Dear OId Blood', Nix confronts Godwit at his Norwegian hut over the duck-rabbit as the mysterious assassins close in. What truths will emerge in the final explosive episode of Wittgenstein's apparent noir? End notes include:Different noir slang for gunsHow Wittgenstein applies Gestalt theory to his lifethe Nazi themeNix's final decisionHerbert Denk's rebuke to Horace Murgatroyd and hopes for the future Questions and queries to: horacemurgatroyd@gmail.com**Audio now fixed!**

This episode of Horace Murgatroyd's reading and commentaries on the purported Wittgenstein noir 'Dear OId Blood', begins with Herbert Denk's defensive Afterword from the second edition. The first part of Murgatroyd's own critical commentary then follows.Questions and queries to: horacemurgatroyd@gmail.comFigure 1. Wittgenstein's grave.Footnote: See Richard J Evans's Why are we obsessed with the Nazis? in The Guardian, 6th February 2015