Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus · Chapter
4.23 explained
Wittgenstein asserts that a name has meaning only within the context of an elementary proposition, emphasizing the dependence of names on propositional structure.
What happens
Wittgenstein asserts that a name has meaning only within the context of an elementary proposition, emphasizing the dependence of names on propositional structure.
Themes in this chapter
Logical Atomism
The proposition asserts that names only have meaning in the context of elementary propositions, a key atomistic claim.
Limits of Language and Thought
Highlights the structural constraints on meaning within language.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Wittgenstein
Author of the proposition, presenting a core tenet of logical atomism.
Key passages
“The name occurs in the proposition only in the context of the elementary proposition.”
A name only has significance when it appears as part of a basic, truth-functional proposition.
Emphasizes the context principle for names within logical atomism.