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Weininger, Otto#

Weininger, Otto, b. Vienna, April 3, 1880, d. Vienna (suicide), Oct. 4, 1903. Philosopher. Was considered by his contemporaries a genius whose development was interrupted by his untimely death, spoke many languages and had an excellent, if somewhat eclectic and prejudicial, education in the humanities and natural sciences. Developed a philosophical/psychological theory of the sexes, which probably centred on S. Freud´s proposition of human bisexuality. This is the reason why he was accused of plagiarism. In spite of his Jewish descent he held anti-Semitic views, was a misogynist and rejected the corporeal dimension of life. He took his life at the age of 23 in the house where Beethoven had died, thus creating for himself an almost mythical status. He influenced Austrian intellectual history (K. Kraus, E. Canetti, R. Musil, L. Wittgenstein) and was used by the National Socialists to legitimise anti-Semitism.

Works#

Geschlecht und Charakter, 1903 (281947); Ueber die letzten Dinge, 1904.

Literature#

E. Lucka, O. W., 1905; G. Klaren, O. W., 1924; J. Le Rider, Der Fall O. W., 1985; C. Sengoopta, O. W. Sex, Science, and Self in Imperial Vienna, 2000.

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