----------------- HES POSTING ----------------- Kevin -- I have heard the Sraffa Neopolitan gesture story so many times I think it must be true (although I have witnessed debates about whether it was a Neopolitan gesture or a Sicilian gesture!). In any case, what is indisputable is Sraffa's influence on Wittgenstein's philosophical thinking--look at the acknowledgements in _Philosophical Investigations_ where W. describes Sraffa's impact on him as making him feel like a tree with all its branches cut off. If the exact story about the gesture isn't true, it appears to reflect the spirit of Sraffa's impact. But John Davis can clear this all up! Mat ------------ FOOTER TO HES POSTING ------------ For information, send the message "info HES" to [log in to unmask]