Ludwig Wittgenstein

David Edward Cooper (University of Durham)
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Despite publishing only book during his lifetime, Ludwig Wittgenstein is widely regarded as one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century. His influence was compounded by his adoption of two contrasting, indeed largely antithetical, approaches to philosophy over the course of his career. Wittgenstein also continues to exert a fascination for a wider educated public, sometimes less in virtue of his writings than of his remarkable life and character which have inspired film makers such as Derek Jarman and novelists like Thomas Bernhard, as well as prompting a host of memoirs.

Ludwig Josef Johann was the youngest child of one of fin de siècle Vienna's richest families (of Jewish origin but converted to Protestantism) whose palais was a main centre of that city's

2130 words

Citation: Cooper, David Edward. "Ludwig Wittgenstein". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 March 2003; last revised 14 April 2003. [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4777, accessed 28 March 2024.]

4777 Ludwig Wittgenstein 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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