Wittgenstein Reads Weininger

Otto Weininger was one of the most controversial and widely read authors of fin-de-siecle Vienna. He was both condemned for his misogyny, self-hatred, anti-semitism and homophobia, as well as praised for his uncompromising and outspoken approach to gender and morality. For Wittgenstein Weininger was a 'remarkable genius'. He repeatedly recommended Weininger's Sex and Character to friends and students and included the author on a short list of figures who had influenced him. The purpose of this new collection of essays is to explore the various ways in which Wittgenstein absorbed and responded to Weininger's ideas. Written by an international team of experts on Wittgenstein and Weininger, the volume is especially timely in the light of recent translations of Weininger's work and will appeal to anyone interested in the history of 20th century philosophy, and the literary and cultural history of fin-de-siecle Vienna.

Otto Weininger was one of the most controversial and widely read authors of fin-de-siècle Vienna. He was both condemned for his misogyny, self-hatred, anti-semitism and homophobia, as well as praised for his uncompromising and outspoken approach to gender and morality. For Wittgenstein Weininger was a 'remarkable genius'. He repeatedly recommended Weininger's Sex and Character to friends and students and included the author on a short list of figures who had influenced him. The purpose of this new collection of essays is to explore the various ways in which Wittgenstein absorbed and responded to Weininger's ideas. Written by an international team of experts on Wittgenstein and Weininger, the volume is especially timely in the light of recent translations of Weininger's work and will appeal to anyone interested in the history of 20th century philosophy, and the literary and cultural history of fin-de-siècle Vienna.

1. Introduction: Reading Wittgenstein (on) reading David G. Stern and Béla Szabados; 2. Eggshells or nourishing yolks? A portrait of Wittgenstein as a Weiningerian Béla Szabados; 3. Weininger and the two Wittgensteins Allan Janik; 4. Sex and solipsism: Weininger's On Last Things Steven Burns; 5. Wittgenstein and Weininger: time, life, world Joachim Schulte; 6. Uncanny differences; Wittgenstein and Weininger as Doppelgänger Daniel Steuer; 7. Weininger and Wittgenstein on 'animal psychology' David G. Stern.

Otto Weininger was one of the most controversial and widely read authors of fin-de-siècle Vienna. The purpose of this new collection of essays is to explore the various ways in which Wittgenstein absorbed and responded to Weininger's ideas.

David G. Stern is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Iowa.
Béla Szabados is Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Classics at the Univesity of Regina.