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Full Idea
The existence of atomic facts we also call a positive fact, their non-existence a negative fact. b...The existence and non-existence of atomic facts is the reality. ...[2.063] the total reality is the world.
Gist of Idea
The existence of atomic facts is a positive fact, their non-existence a negative fact
Source
Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 2.06), quoted 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
Potter observes that he denies negative facts in a1919 letter to Russell, and at 1.11, but then affirms them at 2.06.
| 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] |