Single Idea 8172

[catalogued under 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 4. Meaning as Truth-Conditions]

Full Idea

To understand a proposition means to know what is the case if it is true.

Gist of Idea

To understand a proposition means to know what is the case if it is true

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 4.024)

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (Pears)', ed/tr. Pears,D. /McGuinness,B. [RKP 1961], p.21


A Reaction

This established the Frege truth-conditions theory of meaning, which was expanded by Davidson, and then possible worlds semantics. You can't assess truth without knowing meaning. Dummett says the two go together.