Ludwig Wittgenstein Flight Project

Ludwig Wittgenstein was an Austrian philosopher he was a Professor of Philosophy at the at the University of Cambridge 1939-1947. In 1908 at the age of 19 Wittgenstein came to England the enroll as a research student in aeronautics at the University of Manchester. Wittgenstein would escape from the the city to Glossop in High Peak, Derbyshire not far from where i live in Stockport. It is here in the countryside  that Wittgenstein would walk, contemplate and fly kites. Wittgenstein is seen as one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century and played a very important roll in the history of creative thinkers and problem solvers.

Project Outline

I will be looking at flight. My project will branch off in two directions exploring organic forms of flight like birds and manmade forms of flight like aeroplanes.

Contextual Research 

Books- AERONAUTICS, A Science Museum Four-in-One Book, C. H. Gibbs-Smith, G. W. B. Lacey

W. J. Tuck, W. D. O'Dea. 

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD The Evolution of Flying Machines, Allen Andrews, 1997.

UNDERSTANDING AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES, John Cutler, Revised By Jeremy Liber, Blackwell Publishing. 

Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Standard Publications.

Manchester Museum of Science and Industry - Aeroplane section.

Craft Magazine - Taxidermy Artist

Internet Research on Flying Machines, Aerofoils, Wright Brothers, Birds, Flight, etc.

Experimental Research

Testing Materials, Building and Testing Flying Machines, Slow Motion Video, Drawings and Plans of Flying Machines.

Resources Required

High Definition Camera, After Effects Program, Balsa Wood, Wood Shop, Pencils, Paint, Glue, Understanding of Aerofoils.