Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus · Chapter
3.318 explained
Wittgenstein aligns with Frege and Russell in conceiving the proposition as a function of the expressions contained within it, emphasizing the functional nature of propositions.
What happens
Wittgenstein aligns with Frege and Russell in conceiving the proposition as a function of the expressions contained within it, emphasizing the functional nature of propositions.
Themes in this chapter
Logical Atomism
The proposition as a function of its constituent expressions reflects the logical atomist view of language.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Wittgenstein
Author of the proposition, presenting his view.
- Frege
Mentioned as one of the thinkers whose conception of the proposition Wittgenstein adopts.
- Bertrand Russell
Mentioned alongside Frege as sharing the view of propositions as functions of expressions.
Key passages
“I conceive the proposition—like Frege and Russell—as a function of the expressions contained in it.”
Wittgenstein, following Frege and Russell, views a proposition as a function of the words or symbols that make it up.
Clarifies the functional interpretation of propositions.