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Single Idea 22319

[filed under theme 7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 6. Fundamentals / d. Logical atoms ]

Full Idea

It is obvious that in the analysis of propositions we must come to elementary propositions, which consist of names in immediate combination.

Gist of Idea

Analysis must end in elementary propositions, which are combinations of names

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 4.221), quoted by Michael Potter - The Rise of Analytic Philosophy 1879-1930 50 'Indep'

Book Ref

Potter,Michael: 'The Rise of Anaytic Philosophy 1879-1930' [Routledge 2020], p.337


A Reaction

Not clear about 'combinations of names'. Does that include predicates? How do you combine two names?


The 24 ideas with the same theme [reality built up from the smallest components of logic]:

Comparisons boil down to simple elements of sensation or reflection [Locke]
Atomic facts may be inferrable from others, but never from non-atomic facts [Russell]
Russell gave up logical atomism because of negative, general and belief propositions [Russell, by Read]
To mean facts we assert them; to mean simples we name them [Russell]
'Simples' are not experienced, but are inferred at the limits of analysis [Russell]
Better to construct from what is known, than to infer what is unknown [Russell]
In 1899-1900 I adopted the philosophy of logical atomism [Russell]
Complex things can be known, but not simple things [Russell]
Russell's new logical atomist was of particulars, universals and facts (not platonic propositions) [Russell, by Linsky,B]
Russell's atomic facts are actually compounds, and his true logical atoms are sense data [Russell, by Quine]
Logical atomism aims at logical atoms as the last residue of analysis [Russell]
Once you have enumerated all the atomic facts, there is a further fact that those are all the facts [Russell]
Logical atoms aims to get down to ultimate simples, with their own unique reality [Russell]
Given all true atomic propositions, in theory every other truth can thereby be deduced [Russell]
The sense of propositions relies on the world's basic logical structure [Wittgenstein]
Atomic facts correspond to true elementary propositions [Wittgenstein]
The 'Tractatus' is an extreme example of 'Logical Atomism' [Wittgenstein, by Grayling]
In atomic facts the objects hang together like chain links [Wittgenstein]
The structure of an atomic fact is how its objects combine; this possibility is its form [Wittgenstein]
If a proposition is elementary, no other elementary proposition contradicts it [Wittgenstein]
Analysis must end in elementary propositions, which are combinations of names [Wittgenstein]
Nothing can be inferred from an elementary proposition [Wittgenstein]
Logical atomism builds on the simple properties, but are they the only possible properties? [Armstrong]
Russell allows some complex facts, but Wittgenstein only allows atomic facts [MacBride]