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Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus · Chapter

Chapter 2: The Existence of Atomic Facts explained

This chapter introduces the concept of atomic facts as the fundamental constituents of what is the case, establishing that facts are composed of atomic facts.

What happens

This chapter introduces the concept of atomic facts as the fundamental constituents of what is the case, establishing that facts are composed of atomic facts.

Themes in this chapter

  • Logical Atomism

    The chapter asserts that facts are reducible to atomic facts, a core tenet of logical atomism.

Characters to notice

  • Mr. Wittgenstein

    Author of the Tractatus, presenting the foundational idea of atomic facts.

Key passages

  • What is the case, the fact, is the existence of atomic facts.

    A fact consists of atomic facts that actually exist.

    Clarifies the relationship between facts and atomic facts.