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Otto Weininger

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born

April 03, 1880 in Vienna, Austria

died

October 04, 1903

gender

male

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Otto Weininger (April 3, 1880 – October 4, 1903) was an Austrian philosopher. In 1903, he published the book Geschlecht und Charakter (Sex and Character) which gained popularity after his suicide at the age of 23. Today, the book is generally viewed as misogynistic and antisemitic in academic circles[1]; however, it continues to be held up as a great work of lasting genius and spiritual wisdom by others.

Otto Weininger was born on April 3, 1880 in Vienna as a son of the Jewish goldsmith Leopold Weininger and his wife Adelheid. After attending primary school and graduating from secondary school in July 1898, Weininger registered at the University of Vienna in October of the same year. He studied philosophy and psychology but took courses in n...more Otto Weininger (April 3, 1880 – October 4, 1903) was an Austrian philosopher. In 1903, he published the book Geschlecht und Charakter (Sex and Character) which gained popularity after his suicide at the age of 23. Today, the book is generally viewed as misogynistic and antisemitic in academic circles[1]; however, it continues to be held up as a great work of lasting genius and spiritual wisdom by others.

Otto Weininger was born on April 3, 1880 in Vienna as a son of the Jewish goldsmith Leopold Weininger and his wife Adelheid. After attending primary school and graduating from secondary school in July 1898, Weininger registered at the University of Vienna in October of the same year. He studied philosophy and psychology but took courses in natural sciences and medicine as well. Weininger learned Greek, Latin, French and English very early, later also Spanish and Italian, and acquired passive knowledge of the language of August Strindberg and Henrik Ibsen.

In the autumn of 1901 Weininger tried to find a publisher for his work Eros and the Psyche - which he submitted to his professors Jodl and Müllner as his thesis in 1902. He met Sigmund Freud who, however, did not recommend the text to a publisher. His professors accepted the thesis and Weininger received his Ph.D. degree. Shortly thereafter he became proudly and enthusiastically a Protestant.

In 1902 Weininger went to Bayreuth where he witnessed a performance of Richard Wagner’s Parsifal which left him deeply impressed. Via Dresden and Copenhagen he made his way to Christiania (Oslo) where he for the first time saw Henrik Ibsen’s liberation drama Peer Gynt on stage. Upon his return to Vienna Weininger suffered from fits of deep depression. The decision to take his own life gradually took shape in his mind; after a long discussion with his friend Artur Gerber, however, Weininger realized that “it is not yet time”.

In June 1903, after months of concentrated work, his book Sex and Character - a fundamental investigation - an attempt “to place sex relations in a new and decisive light” - was published by the Vienna publishers Braumüller & Co. The book contained his thesis to which three vital chapters were added: (XII) The Nature of Woman and her Relation to the Universe, (XIII) Judaism, (XIV) Women and Humanity.

While the book was not received negatively, it did not create the expected stir. Weininger was attacked by Paul Julius Moebius, professor in Leipzig and author of the book On the Physiological Deficiency of Women, and was accused of plagiarizing. Deeply disappointed and tortured by doubts, Weininger left for Italy.

Back in Vienna he spent his last five days with his parents. On October 3, he took a room in the house in Schwarzspanierstraße 15 where Ludwig van Beethoven died. He told the landlady that he was not to be disturbed before morning since he planned to work and then to go to bed late. This night he wrote two letters, one addressed to his father, the other one to his brother Richard, telling them that he was going to shoot himself.

In October 4, Weininger was found mortally wounded, having shot himself through the heart, and he died in Wiener Allgemeines Krankenhaus at half past ten that morning. Otto Weininger was buried on the Matzleinsdorf Protestant Cemetery in Vienna. The epitaph by his father translates:

"This stone closes the resting place of a young man
whose mind never really found peace on earth.
And after imparting revelations of his mind and soul
he could not bear any longer to be among the living.
He searched for the death realm of one of the greatest minds
that dwelled in the house in Schwarzspanierstrasse
and put an end to his bodily existence." (less)

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Books by Otto Weininger

Average rating: 3.72 · 43 ratings · 6 reviews · 19 distinct works

	Sex and Character: An Investigation of Fundamental Principles 370 avg rating — 37 ratings — published 1992 — 24 editions	My rating:
	A Translation of Weininger's Uber Die Letzten Dinge, 1904-1907, on Last Things 425 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	My rating:
	T. I. P. S.: Time-In Parenting Strategies 300 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1998	My rating:
	Taschenbuch Und Briefe an Einen Freund by Otto Weininger, Artur Gerber 000 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2010	My rating:
	The Differential Diagnostic Technique, a Visual Motor Projective Test: Research and Clinical Use 000 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1986	My rating:
	Livre De Poche Et Lettres by Otto Weininger, Artur Gerber (Préface), Pierre Deshusses (Traduction) 000 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2005	My rating:
	Gedanken Uber Geschlechtsprobleme (1907) by Otto Weininger, Robert Saudek (Editor) 000 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2010 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Melanie Klein: From Theory Reality 000 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1992 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Ebraismo E Odio Di Sé 000 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1994	My rating:
	Out Of The Minds Of Babes: The Strength Of Children's Feelings 000 avg rating — 0 ratings	My rating:

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Quotes by Otto Weininger

“All genius is a conquering of chaos and mystery.”
― Otto Weininger

tags: the-decline-of-the-west

4 people liked it

“There are transitional forms between the metals and non-metals; between chemical combinations and simple mixtures, between animals and plants, between phanerogams and cryptogams, and between mammals and birds [...]. The improbability may henceforth be taken for granted of finding in Nature a sharp cleavage between all that is masculine on the one side and all that is feminine on the other; or that any living being is so simple in this respect that it can be put wholly on one side, or wholly on the other, of the line.”
― Otto Weininger

tags: femininity , gender , masculinity , sexuality

2 people liked it

“No men who really think deeply about women retain a high opinion of them”
― Otto Weininger, Sex and Character: An Investigation of Fundamental Principles

tags: humor , inspirational , science