Wittgenstein [Book Review]

When this biographical treatment first appeared in 1973, it drew gentle praise from some but intense criticism from those who were offended by allegations about Wittgenstein’s private life. This new edition corrects minor errors and expands bibliographical and footnote references, taking into account, for example, inconsistencies in biographical reports as on 22n and 112n. Of considerable interest is Bartley’s thirty-eight page “afterword.” It discusses the vexed question of Wittgenstein’s alleged homosexuality, recounts the vigorous denials of it, and negatively criticizes Scharfstein’s thesis “that a man’s philosophical product is a disguised expression of his inner state”. Yet Bartley does speculate that Wittgenstein’s sexual orientation may help account for the influence he has on his devoted admirers who respond to him as if to a psychopomp. So this revised edition will doubtless spark new controversy.