Single Idea 18481

[catalogued under 3. Truth / B. Truthmakers / 3. Truthmaker Maximalism]

Full Idea

If maximalism is intellectual heir to Russell's logical atomism, then 'optimalism' (the denial that universal and negative statements need truth-makers) is heir to Wittgenstein's version, where only atomic propositions represent states of affairs.

Gist of Idea

Maximalism follows Russell, and optimalism (no negative or universal truthmakers) follows Wittgenstein

Source

Fraser MacBride (Truthmakers [2013], 2.2)

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.17


A Reaction

Wittgenstein's idea is that you can use the logical connectives to construct all the other universal and negative facts. 'Optimalism' restricts truthmaking to atomic statements.

Related Ideas

Idea 18475 Russell allows some complex facts, but Wittgenstein only allows atomic facts [MacBride]

Idea 18473 'Maximalism' says every truth has an actual truthmaker [MacBride]