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Full Idea
The existence of a general propositional form is proved by the fact that there cannot be a proposition whose form could not have been foreseen (i.e. constructed). The general form of the proposition is: Such and such is the case.
Gist of Idea
There must exist a general form of propositions, which are predictabe. It is: such and such is the case
Source
Michael Morris (Guidebook to Wittgenstein's Tractatus [2008], 4.5)
Book Ref
Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (Pears)', ed/tr. Pears,D. /McGuinness,B. [RKP 1961], p.36
A Reaction
[last bit in Ogden translation] LW eventually expresses this symbolically. We could just say a proposition is an assertion. This strikes as either a rather empty claim, or an unfounded one.
| 23460 | To count, we must distinguish things, and have a series with successors in it [Morris,M] |
| 23449 | Interpreting a text is representing it as making sense [Morris,M] |
| 23452 | Discriminating things for counting implies concepts of identity and distinctness [Morris,M] |
| 23451 | Counting needs to distinguish things, and also needs the concept of a successor in a series [Morris,M] |
| 23484 | Bipolarity adds to Bivalence the capacity for both truth values [Morris,M] |
| 23491 | There must exist a general form of propositions, which are predictabe. It is: such and such is the case [Morris,M] |
| 23494 | Conjunctive and disjunctive quantifiers are too specific, and are confined to the finite [Morris,M] |