Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was an Austrian philosopher who made significant contributions to logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language. Born in Vienna on 26 April 1889 and passing on 29 April 1951, Wittgenstein is considered one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century.

Wittgenstein taught at the University of Cambridge from 1929 to 1947. Despite his academic position, only one of his philosophical works was published during his lifetime: the Logisch-Philosophische Abhandlung (Logical-Philosophical Treatise, 1921), better known as the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. His other works were published posthumously, with the Philosophical Investigations being the most prominent.

His philosophy is often categorized into an early period, typified by the Tractatus, and a later period, articulated in the Philosophical Investigations. The early Wittgenstein focused on the logical relationship between propositions and the world, believing that he had resolved all philosophical problems by mapping these relationships. The later Wittgenstein, however, shifted his focus, suggesting that the meaning of words is best understood through their use in language games.

Born into one of Europe's wealthiest families, Wittgenstein inherited a vast fortune in 1913, much of which he gave away to artists and those in need. He experienced periods of severe depression and repeatedly left academia to pursue various roles, such as serving as an officer in World War I, teaching in Austrian villages, and working as a hospital porter and laboratory technician during World War II.