Sex & Character
Authorised Translation from the Sixth German Edition
Sex and Character is the English version of Otto Weininger's Geschlecht und Charakter, published in Vienna in 1903, a few months before its twenty-three-year-old author shot himself. Weininger argues that every human being is a mixture of an ideal masculine and an ideal feminine principle, uses the idea to explain sexual attraction and homosexuality, and then builds on it a sweeping theory of consciousness, memory, logic, ethics and genius, assigning all the higher faculties to the masculine pole. The chapters on woman and on Judaism express a contempt that made the book notorious, and it is read today as a document of Viennese thought at the turn of the century rather than as science. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Sex & Character
Sex & Character by Otto Weininger can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Sex & Character online?
Yes. Sex & Character opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Sex & Character free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Sex & Character is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Sex & Character in the public domain?
Yes. Sex & Character by Otto Weininger is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Sex & Character?
About 8 h 25 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Sex & Character?
Sex & Character by Otto Weininger is filed under "Philosophy" in the Vinteuil library.
