Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was an Austrian philosopher who made significant contributions to the fields of logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language.

From 1929 to 1947, Wittgenstein taught at the University of Cambridge. Despite his academic position, only one book of his philosophy was published during his lifetime: the Logisch-Philosophische Abhandlung (Logical-Philosophical Treatise, 1921), known as the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, which was published in 1922. He also published an article, "Some Remarks on Logical Form" (1929), a book review, and a children's dictionary. His extensive manuscripts were published posthumously, with Philosophical Investigations (1953) being particularly well-known.

His work is often divided into early and later periods. The early Wittgenstein focused on the logical relationship between propositions and the world, while the later Wittgenstein emphasized the meaning of words through their use in language games.

Born in Vienna into one of Europe's wealthiest families, Wittgenstein inherited a fortune from his father but chose to give it away to artists and family members. His life included serving in World War I, teaching in Austrian villages, and working as a hospital porter in London during World War II.