Single Idea 7537

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / C. Ontology of Logic / 2. Platonism in Logic]

Full Idea

Russell took a Platonist view of logic, but reading the 'Tractatus' convinced him that logic was purely linguistic, so-called 'logical truths' being nothing more than tautologies.

Clarification

The 'Tractatus' is by Wittgenstein

Gist of Idea

Wittgenstein convinced Russell that logic is tautologies, not Platonic forms

Source

report of Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921]) by Ray Monk - Bertrand Russell: Spirit of Solitude Ch.1

Book Reference

Monk,Ray: 'Bertrand Russell: Spirit of Solitude' [Vintage 1997], p.6


A Reaction

If p-and-q and p-or-q are both tautologies, how do you explain the difference between them? The first is an indicative proposition about the actual world, but the second is modal. They are asserting very different things.