The Cartesian Bottle

Wittgenstein's expression, in both phases of his career, that "clarity" is his philosophical goal, professes an allegiance to Cartesianism, that, despite his exceptional acuity to the use of Language, inherits a Cartesian blindness in that respect.  For, as has been discussed here earlier, The Meditations goes astray from the outset--whereas, in those passages, Descartes purports to be sitting in front of a fire, wondering what truly exists, he, in self-evident fact, is at a desk, writing.  So, rigorous self-conscientiousness at that point could lead him to the realization that "I write" is certain and true whenever he produces it.  From there, God, Mathematics, the Body, etc., are all topics of Writing, and, hence, of Communication, to which Clarity has subordinate value.  In other words, what Descartes is showing is not what he is saying, and, so, despite Wittgenstein's pervasive attention to that distinction, his prioritizing of Clarity suggests that he remains trapped, with Russell, and with most Modern Philosophers, in a Cartesian bottle.