# 5.5571 explained — Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

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

## What happens

Wittgenstein argues that attempting to provide elementary propositions a priori results in obvious nonsense, as such propositions cannot be given in advance of empirical investigation.

## Themes in this chapter

### Logical Atomism

The impossibility of giving elementary propositions a priori challenges the foundational assumption of logical atomism.

### Nonsense and Meaning

Attempting to give elementary propositions a priori leads to obvious nonsense, highlighting the boundary between sense and nonsense.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Wittgenstein

Author of the proposition, asserting the impossibility of giving elementary propositions a priori.

## Key lines

> If I cannot give elementary propositions a priori then it must lead to obvious nonsense to try to give them.

Since elementary propositions cannot be specified in advance of experience, any attempt to do so results in patent absurdity.

_Wittgenstein emphasizes the empirical basis of elementary propositions._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se/chapters/5-5571
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se/chapters