Single Idea 16872

[catalogued under 19. Language / D. Propositions / 2. Abstract Propositions / a. Propositions as sense]

Full Idea

The sentence is of value to us because of the sense that we grasp in it, which is recognisably the same in a translation. I call this sense the thought. What we prove is not a sentence, but a thought.

Gist of Idea

A thought is the sense expressed by a sentence, and is what we prove

Source

Gottlob Frege (Logic in Mathematics [1914], p.206)

Book Reference

Frege,Gottlob: 'Posthumous Writings', ed/tr. Hermes/Long/White etc [Blackwell 1979], p.206


A Reaction

The 'sense' is presumably the German 'sinn', and a 'thought' in Frege is what we normally call a 'proposition'. So the sense of a sentence is a proposition, and logic proves propositions. I'm happy with that.