Tolstói and Wittgenstein: in search of the happy life

Abstract

Tolstoi had a deep influence in Wittgenstein religious positions, especially in ethics. Both consider that fundamental problems of live cannot be treated intellectually. According to Tolstoi literates learn from peasants who do not make intellectual questions or talk much about life, but rather live their life. This tolstoinian proposal is, for Wittgenstein, the kind of wisdom we need to achieve in order to accomplish a better life, because speaking a language is part of an activity, of a "form of life". Being happy is not a matter of saying it, but of showing it in our actions; being happy is nothing but this.