# 4.123 explained — Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

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

## What happens

Wittgenstein defines an internal property as one that is unthinkable for its object not to possess, illustrating with the internal relation between shades of blue. He notes the shifting use of 'property', 'relation', and 'object'.

## Themes in this chapter

### Logical Atomism

Discusses internal properties and relations as necessary features of objects, reflecting the atomistic view of simple objects and their essential connections.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Wittgenstein

Author of the proposition defining internal properties and relations.

## Key lines

> A property is internal if it is unthinkable that its object does not possess it.

An internal property is one that an object must have; we cannot conceive of the object without it.

_Defines the concept of internal property in terms of necessity._

> This bright blue colour and that stand in the internal relation of bright and darker eo ipso . It is unthinkable that these two objects should not stand in this relation.

Two shades of blue are inherently related as brighter and darker; it is impossible for them not to have this relation.

_Illustrates internal relations with a concrete example from color._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se/chapters/4-123
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se/chapters