Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus · Chapter
5.5262 explained
Wittgenstein argues that the truth or falsehood of any proposition modifies the overall structure of the world.
What happens
Wittgenstein argues that the truth or falsehood of any proposition modifies the overall structure of the world. The scope of this structural variation is determined by the totality of elementary propositions, which in turn is bounded by completely general propositions. If an elementary proposition is true, it adds to the count of true elementary propositions.
Themes in this chapter
Logical Atomism
The passage discusses elementary propositions and their truth-values as fundamental components that affect the general structure of the world.
Logic and Tautology
The role of completely general propositions in delimiting the range of structural possibilities relates to logical form and tautological boundaries.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Wittgenstein
Author of the proposition, presenting the relationship between truth-values of propositions and the structure of the world.
Key passages
“The truth or falsehood of every proposition alters something in the general structure of the world.”
Each proposition's truth value makes a difference to the overall arrangement of the world.
Emphasizes the impact of individual propositions on the global state of affairs.
“And the range which is allowed to its structure by the totality of elementary propositions is exactly that which the completely general propositions delimit.”
The possible variations in the world's structure, as permitted by all elementary propositions, are precisely bounded by fully general propositions.
Connects the scope of elementary propositions to the limiting function of general propositions.
“(If an elementary proposition is true, then, at any rate, there is one more elementary proposition true.)”
A true elementary proposition simply adds to the set of true elementary propositions.
Clarifies the cumulative effect of truth among elementary propositions.