FROM WITTGENSTEIN'S POSSESSION

MOORE, G.E.

Experience and Empiricism. Reprinted from the "Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society," 1903.

(London), 1903. 8vo. Stitched, unbound. A fine copy. 16 pp.

First edition, separate re-print - from the library of Wittgenstein (not stated anywhere in the copy, but the copy comes from the descendents of Hänsel, who verify the provenance) - of this most fundamental question of philosophy, which for Moore, as well as for Wittgenstein, was at the core of philosophical thought.

The present work is extremely difficult to find separately, and the present copy has been in the possession of Ludwig Wittgenstein, who was probably given the copy by Moore himself. Wittgenstein handed over some of his belongings, including a number of his books, to his life-long friend Ludwig Hänsel. Among these belongings was the present copy of Moore's influential work.

Wittgenstein did not have many close friends, but the closest- together with Rudolph Koder- was Luwig Hänsel, who was a high-school teacher of German and literature. Hänsel and Wittgenstein, who befriended each other in 1918 while being war prisoners in Monte Casino, also remained close friends throughout their lives.

George Edward Moore (1873-1958) is one of the most influential of twentieth century philosophers, and his contributions to analytic philosophy can be compared to only those of Russell, Wittgenstein and Frege, with whom he founded this philosophical discipline. His impact on Anglo-American philosophy in the 20th century must be said to be nearly unsurpassed.

Order-nr.: 41459