# 3.143 explained — Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

> Chapter companion for Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein.

## What happens

Wittgenstein argues that the propositional sign is a fact, but this is concealed by ordinary written or printed language, which makes a proposition appear similar to a word. He notes that this confusion led Frege to treat propositions as compounded names.

## Themes in this chapter

### Picture Theory of Language

The propositional sign as a fact is foundational to the picture theory, where propositions depict states of affairs.

### Critique of Traditional Philosophy

Wittgenstein criticizes Frege's view of propositions as compounded names, highlighting a fundamental misunderstanding of logical form.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Wittgenstein

Author of the Tractatus, presenting the argument that the propositional sign is a fact.

### Frege

Mentioned as having mistakenly called a proposition a compounded name due to the concealment of the propositional sign's factual nature.

## Key lines

> That the propositional sign is a fact is concealed by the ordinary form of expression, written or printed.

The fact that a propositional sign is a fact is hidden by the usual way we write or print it.

_Wittgenstein emphasizes that the true nature of propositions as facts is obscured by conventional notation._

> For in the printed proposition, for example, the sign of a proposition does not appear essentially different from a word.

In a printed proposition, the sign looks no different from a word.

_This visual similarity leads to the mistaken view that propositions are just complex names._

> Thus it was possible for Frege to call the proposition a compounded name.

This is why Frege could think of a proposition as a compound name.

_Wittgenstein points out Frege's error as a consequence of overlooking the factual nature of propositional signs._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se/chapters/3-143
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se/chapters