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Single Idea 15089

[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / H. Proof Systems / 1. Proof Systems ]

Full Idea

Proof in logic is merely a mechanical expedient to facilitate recognition of tautologies in complicated cases.

Gist of Idea

Logical proof just explicates complicated tautologies

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 6.1262)

Book Ref

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (Pears)', ed/tr. Pears,D. /McGuinness,B. [RKP 1961], p.64


The 4 ideas with the same theme [general ideas about the different proof systems]:

Proof theory began with Frege's definition of derivability [Frege, by Prawitz]
Logical proof just explicates complicated tautologies [Wittgenstein]
An 'informal proof' is in no particular system, and uses obvious steps and some ordinary English [Bostock]
'Induction' and 'recursion' on complexity prove by connecting a formula to its atomic components [Burgess]