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Single Idea 22314

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

Full Idea

On white paper, the fact that a point is black corresponds to a positive fact; to the fact that a point is white (not black), a negative fact.

Gist of Idea

On white paper a black spot is a positive fact and a white spot a negative fact

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 4.063), quoted by Michael Potter - The Rise of Analytic Philosophy 1879-1930 08 'Judg'

Book Ref

Potter,Michael: 'The Rise of Anaytic Philosophy 1879-1930' [Routledge 2020], p.55

A Reaction

Elsewhere Wittgenstein is ambiguous as to whether he believes in negative facts [qv].

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]