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Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus · Chapter
4.11 explained
Wittgenstein equates the totality of true propositions with the entirety of natural science, suggesting that all meaningful factual statements are encompassed by scientific inquiry.
What happens
Wittgenstein equates the totality of true propositions with the entirety of natural science, suggesting that all meaningful factual statements are encompassed by scientific inquiry.
Themes in this chapter
Limits of Language and Thought
The proposition defines the boundary of meaningful language as coinciding with natural science.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Wittgenstein
Author of the proposition linking truth and natural science.
Key passages
“The totality of true propositions is the total natural science (or the totality of the natural sciences).”
All true statements together make up the whole of natural science.
Wittgenstein identifies truth with scientific knowledge.