Die Wittgenstein-Editionen im Kontext

Abstract

Abstract This article discusses the idea as well as the first aspects of a contextual study of the history of editing Wittgenstein’s writings. At least for the first round of the editorial history, which consists in the editorial work of Wittgenstein’s original literary heirs, a contextual approach has close affinities with the genre of intellectual biography. Results from recent research illustrate how the personal experiences of having been with Wittgenstein influenced the literary executors’ understanding of their task and their editorial practices. In addition, biographical, philosophical and cultural developments after Wittgenstein’s death have influenced the appearance of editions from Wittgenstein’s ‚Nachlass‘. Finally, a contextual history of the first round may be used in highlighting the changing academic, political and technological conditions for the subsequent rounds of editing Wittgenstein.