Chapter 6 and 7 Wittgenstein Quiz

Chapter 6+7 Quiz

1. 1.As I understand them, atomic propositions are propositions that are, like atoms, reduced to their smallest form. They cannot be further analyzed or broken down. The second half of the question is alluding to the idea that atomic propositions make up everything; they “construct” words and symbols, and in order to fully understand those words and symbols one must first understand and comprehend the building blocks.

2. The idea of something being in two places at once or of two particles being in the same place at the same time is what Ramsey refers to as impossibility. To him, this idea is concerned with physical science. He contradicts Wittgenstein’s view of it being related to the needs and concerns of logic. These ideas are illogical when stated, but can be attempted to be explained through physics.

3. Up until he wrote his third publication, Wittgenstein’s view of language (as described in Tractacus) was that the inexpressible should not be expressed. Now, under the guidance of Ramsey, he in a way rewrote his entire philosophy. He no longer thought of the one logical form (which Ramsey rejected) but of how language an logic can be underscored in philosophical propositions (something he did not believe in before).

4.This is Wittgenstein’s own writing, I believe. He is saying that instead of meticulously stating how to solve a philosophical problem or dilemma, one must describe its nature completely. Description is a much more beautiful word than explanation. It implies a holistic approach to a philosophical issue—one that, through language, attempts to bring about complete understanding.


5. Uebersicht! Hurrah! Technically, uebersicht means oversight, but the book had a different definition that I interpreted as “reaching for clarity.” Monk talks about Goethe, and his morphological approach to science. Wittgenstein did the same thing with language (Goethe was very influential to him). I think this means that he tried to make language beautiful while having it maintain its logical undertones.