# 6.1233 explained — Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

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

## What happens

Wittgenstein argues that the axiom of reducibility is not a logical truth, as we can conceive of a world where it fails, and logic is indifferent to the actual constitution of the world.

## Themes in this chapter

### Logic and Tautology

The passage underscores that logical propositions are tautologies, independent of empirical facts; the axiom of reducibility is not a tautology since its negation is conceivable.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Wittgenstein

Author of the proposition, asserting the contingency of the axiom of reducibility and the independence of logic from empirical fact.

## Key lines

> We can imagine a world in which the axiom of reducibility is not valid. But it is clear that logic has nothing to do with the question whether our world is really of this kind or not.

It is possible to conceive of a universe where the axiom of reducibility does not hold; however, logic is unconcerned with whether our actual world is such a universe.

_Wittgenstein emphasizes the non-logical, contingent status of the axiom of reducibility._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se/chapters/6-1233
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tractatus_logico_philosophicus_se/chapters