Otto Weininger
Austrian philosopher, 1880-1903
"In 1903, Weininger published the book ""Geschlecht und Charakter"" (""Sex and Character""), which gained popularity after his suicide at the age of 23. Today, Weininger is viewed as misogynistic and antisemitic by some in academic circles, but was held to be a great genius by the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and the writer August Strindberg. On October 3, he took a room in the house in Schwarzspanierstraße 15 where Ludwig van Beethoven died. The next morning, he was found mortally wounded, having shot himself through the heart."
Source: Wikipedia
Philosoph (1880-1903). Archive collection, consisting of preliminary studies and drafts for his magnum opus "Geschlecht und Charakter" ("Sex and Character") as well as for "Eros und Psyche", together with notes and autobiographical writings. [Wien]. Zus. ca. 700 SS., teils paginiert, überwiegend in Weiningers fast gestochener Handschrift, Teile auch flüchtiger geschrieben (Lateinschrift), bzw. stenographiert, zahlreiche Korrekturen und teilweise ganzseitige Streichungen. Konvolut ungeordnet, unvollst.
$ 101,517 / 95.000 €
(49445/BN33831)
Extensive and previously unknown partial estate of the ill-fated Austrian philosopher. Of outstanding importance for a scholarly study of the textual development of Weininger's principal work as well as for the biography of the controversial philosopher. The present collection mainly comprises preliminary studies and working drafts for his dissertation "Eros und Psyche", as well as for "Geschlecht und Charakter" ("Sex and Character"), the notorious magnum opus which he expanded from his dissertation.
Also included are numerous citations and excerpts from Weininger's literary studies, several library order slips, some exercise books and letters, a portrait, and a short autobiographical statement, as well as his father's written permission that Otto learns how to handle a gun. - Weininger's major work, a precocious study of the relationship of sex and character which earned the author his Ph.D. degree, was dismissed at first but gained immediate popularity after he shot himself at the age of 23. The work remains a key document of Vienna fin-de-siècle thinking. In spite of his rabid misogyny and antisemitism, Weininger was considered a genius by the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein as well as the writer August Strindberg. - Some browning and wrinkling, occasional paper flaws to edges. Well preserved altogether..