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Single Idea 22312

[filed under theme 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 8. Facts / d. Negative facts ]

Full Idea

In 1913 Wittgenstein was explicit that there are both positive and negative facts.

Gist of Idea

Facts can be both positive and negative

Source

report of Ludwig Wittgenstein (Notes on Logic [1913], B7) by Michael Potter - The Rise of Analytic Philosophy 1879-1930 47 'Mole'

Book Ref

Potter,Michael: 'The Rise of Anaytic Philosophy 1879-1930' [Routledge 2020], p.322

A Reaction

This is a prelude to the Tractatus, in which negative facts are denied in T1.11 (and in a 1919 letter), but then affirmed in T2.06.

The 6 ideas with the same theme [whether denials and absences can be facts]:

22316 A positive and negative fact have the same constituents; their difference is primitive [Russell]
22315 There can't be a negative of a complex, which is negated by its non-existence [Potter on Russell]
22312 Facts can be both positive and negative [Wittgenstein, by Potter]
22311 The world is determined by the facts, and there are no further facts [Wittgenstein]
22313 The existence of atomic facts is a positive fact, their non-existence a negative fact [Wittgenstein]
22314 On white paper a black spot is a positive fact and a white spot a negative fact [Wittgenstein]