This accessible and lucidly written guide introduces the student of Wittgenstein to his most important work, the Philosophical Investigations and assesses its relationship to contemporary philosophy.Wittgenstein is the most influential twentieth century philosopher in the English-speaking world. In the Philosophical Investigations, his most important work, he introduces the famous 'private language argument' which changed the whole philosophical view of language. Wittgenstein and the Philosophical Investigations introduces and assesses:* Wittgenstein's life, and its connection with his thought* the text of the Philosophical Investigations* the importance of Wittgenstein's work to contemporary philosophy.