Internationale Ludwig Wittgenstein Gesellschaft e.V.

The International Ludwig Wittgenstein Society will host its 7th symposium on the theme of 70 Years of Editing Wittgenstein – History, Challenges and Possibilities on 7/8 October 2022 at the University of Milan.

As is well known, Wittgenstein published only one philosophical book during his lifetime, the “Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus”. Since his death in 1951, numerous writings have been published posthumously by his trustees – with more or less editorial modifications, depending on the condition of the manuscripts and typescripts. In Wittgenstein-scholarship, this has repeatedly given rise to discussion, criticism and, in some cases, new (also digital) editions, translations and collections. Now, 70 years after Wittgenstein’s death, his writings have entered the public domain in many countries, significantly changing the way his writings can be accessed and dealt with.

On behalf of the International Ludwig Wittgenstein Society, we would like to take the passing of these 70 years as an opportunity to rethink the philological and editorial work on and with Wittgenstein’s writings. More concretely, the conference aims to link philosophical, philological and editorial aspects and questions and to discuss how the editorial decisions of the last 70 years have shaped the reception of Wittgenstein and what problems and opportunities might arise from this for the future, especially concerning digital editions of Wittgenstein’s Nachlass. Within the framework of the three panels “History”, “Challenges” and “Possibilities”, there will be individual lectures devoted to editorial-philological problems in the past, stylistic peculiarities in the editing and translation of Wittgenstein’s writings and new forms of presentation through digital formats.

In addition, new perspectives for broader digital access to Wittgenstein’s works will be showcased in a workshop centred on the Ludwig Wittgenstein Project, initiated by Michele Lavazza.

Dates: 7 October (09:00-18:00) and 8 October (09:45-12:00)

Venue: Università degli Studi di Milano, via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122 Milano. Aula Crociera Alta di Studi Umanistici.

The talks will be in English.

All are welcome to attend.

It will be possible to attend the conference remotely via Zoom. If you wish to participate online, please send an email to traechtler@wittgensteinproject.org by 5 October 2022 to receive the link. Online participants will be welcome to ask questions via Zoom as well; please be aware, however, that due to technical and time-related constraints it might happen that we won’t be able to discuss all the questions.

Confirmed keynote speakers:

Dr. Moira de Iaco (editor of letters between Wittgenstein and Sraffa, Università degli Studi di Bari „Aldo Moro“)

Dr. Yrsa Neuman (Head of Åbo Akademis bibliotek, former curator of the von Wright and Wittgenstein Archives Helsinki, Open Access Expert)

Prof. Alois Pichler (Curator of the Wittgenstein Archives Bergen, University of Bergen)

Dr. Ilse Somavilla (Brenner Archive Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck)

Prof. David Stern (University of Iowa, Iowa Tractatus Map Project)

Michele Lavazza (Head of the Ludwig Wittgenstein Project)

Peter Winslow (translator of Wittgenstein’s family letters, ed. by Brian McGuinness)

You find the programme and abstracts here.

Scientific Organizers: Frederic Kettelhoit (University of Kassel) and Dr. Jasmin Trächtler (Technical University of Dortmund)

Host: Prof. Paolo Spinicci

The conference is organized in cooperation with the Ludwig Wittgenstein Project

Internationale Ludwig Wittgenstein Gesellschaft e.V. - Alle Rechte vorbehalten - Letzte Änderung: 09.01.2024