1 1. This quote, from proposition 3.143, is alluding to Wittgenstein’s idea that while words may physically be the same (have the same sign), they may have different meanings (or symbols). Facts become muddled because of writing. When something is written down, it can confuse the meaning of a proposition more than when it is spoken.
2. 2. Philosophical confusion arises out of the misunderstanding of logical language. As stated above, words and symbols differ, though people see them many times as being synonymous. The signs, in a way, can disguise the symbols and their true meanings. The example that is used is “John is green” versus “John is Green.” The “is” in these sentences have the same sign but different symbols. The first describes John and the second identifies him.
3. 3. Tautologies are sentences/statements/propositions that are always true because they cannot not be true. They oppose contradictions. The book uses the tautology that it is either raining or not raining. This sentence is true; it is senseless in the fact that it is obvious, but it is not nonsense because it is an essential element of the philosophical logical process.
4. 4. Logic, ethics, aesthetics, and religion all belong to the transcendental realm of philosophy because they go beyond understanding. They cannot be put into words. Writing about these things would be like writing about something that cannot be written about. I like to think that propositions are not strong enough to hold the words that would compromise logic, ethics, aesthetics, and religion.
5. 5. Wittgenstein thought philosophy was confusing, muddled, and had many aspects that could not even be expressed. He wanted to clean up the problems of philosophy. The scientific method is very exact and structured. Wittgenstein would never have supported the idea of a philosophical scientific method because he didn’t believe that philosophy is a science. It is a way of life.
1. When we read do we see "propositional signs, words strung together or... some attempt at communication? What do you think Wittgenstein meant by the use of the word obscured?
ReplyDelete2. "The underlying logical form of thoughts..."
3. Why would you say "it's an essential element of the philosophical logical process?"
4.Do you mean to say philosophy itself has its own transcendental realm? Nice writing on this one. I like the idea that words aren't "strong enough."
5. Isn't the Tractatus an attempt at a "method?"