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 t…
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Citation: Cooper, David Edward. "Ludwig Wittgenstein". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 March 2003; last revised 14 April 2003. [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4777, accessed 23 November 2024.]
