Tuesday 9/25

Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, 4.2-4.4661

Discussion Questions

First Question: The Meaning of a Proposition

At 4.2, Wittgenstein states that "[t]he sense of a proposition is its agreement and disagreement with possibilities of existence and non-existence of states of affairs." This seems fair game for illumination by example. What are some examples of propositions whose meaning (whether the proposition is true or false) is grasped by understanding the possibilities of the existence and non-existence of states-of-affairs with which it agrees and disagrees?

Second Question: Elementary, My Dear Watson!

What are elementary propositions, and what is the relationship between an elementary proposition and a state-of-affairs (or atomic fact) as Wittgenstein conceives it?

Third Question: Hesperus = Phosphorus?

Recall our discussion of Frege's Puzzle. At 4.241, 4.242, and 4.243, Wittgenstein proposes an alternative to Frege's solution. What is Wittgenstein's proposal? Is it satisfactory? (These notes might help you in your investigations.)

Fourth Question: Logical Truths and Logical Falsehoods

At 4.46 and following to 4.4661 Wittgenstein considers tautologies and contradictions, claiming, among other things, that (4.461) "[t]autologies and contradictions lack sense." What does he mean by this claim? If tautologies and contradictions have no meaning, then what are they?