# 4.464 explained — Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

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

## What happens

Wittgenstein distinguishes three types of propositions based on their truth-value: tautologies are certainly true, empirical propositions are possibly true or false, and contradictions are necessarily false. He notes that this gradation corresponds to the concept of probability.

## Themes in this chapter

### Logic and Tautology

Tautologies are certain, contradictions impossible, and empirical propositions possible—this gradation underlies the theory of probability.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Wittgenstein

Author of the Tractatus, presenting the logical classification of propositions.

## Key lines

> The truth of tautology is certain, of propositions possible, of contradiction impossible.

Tautologies are always true, empirical statements can be either true or false, and contradictions are always false.

_This establishes a threefold logical classification that mirrors the degrees of probability._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se/chapters/4-464
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se/chapters