The Argument of the Tractatus: Its Relevance to Contemporary Theories of Logic, Language, Mind, and Philosophical Truth

635 Pages·1986·1.4 MB·English

by  Richard McDonough

The Argument of the Tractatus : Its
Relevance to Contemporary Theories of
title:
Logic, Language, Mind, and Philosophical
Truth SUNY Series in Logic and Language
author: McDonough, Richard M.
publisher: State University of New York Press
isbn10 | asin: 0887061532
print isbn13: 9780887061530
ebook isbn13: 9780585090252
language: English
Wittgenstein, Ludwig,--1889-1951.--
Tractatus logico-philosophicus, Logic,
subject
Symbolic and mathematical, Language and
languages--Philosophy.
publication date: 1986
lcc: B3376.W563T7343 1986eb
ddc: 192
Wittgenstein, Ludwig,--1889-1951.--
Tractatus logico-philosophicus, Logic,
subject:
Symbolic and mathematical, Language and
languages--Philosophy.
Page i
The Argument of the Tractatus
Page ii
SUNY Series in Logic and Language
John T. Kearns, Editor
Page iii
The Argument of the Tractatus
Its relevance to contemporary theories of logic, language,
mind and philosophical truth
Richard M. McDonough
State University of New York Press
Page iv
To Nancy Gerth and Bruce Goldberg
Published by State University of New York Press, Albany
© 1986 State University of New York
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
No part of this book may be used or reproduced
in any manner whatsoever without written permission
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in
critical articles and reviews.
For information, address State University of New York P
ress, State University Plaza, Albany, N.Y., 12246
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
McDonough, Richard M., 1950The argument of the Tractatus.
(SUNY series in logic and language)
Bibliography: p. 297 Includes index.
1. Wittgenstein, Ludwig, 1889-1951. Tractatus logico-philosphcus.
2. Logic, Symbolic and mathematical. 3. LanguagePhilosophy.
I. Title. II. Series.
B3376.W563T7343 1985 192 85-9916
ISBN 0-88706-152-4
ISBN 0-88706-153-2 (pbk.)
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Page v
This is an art
Which does mend nature
Change it rather; but
The art itself is nature.
Shakespeare,
The Winter's Tale
Page vii
Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction. The Program 1
Tautologies and the Logical Structure of Language and
the World 1
A Sketch of Wittgenstein's Strategy 6
The Historical Objections to Wittgenstein's Program 8
A Conceptual Objection to Wittgenstein's Program 11
The Scope of the Present Interpretation 12
The Status of the Present Interpretation 14
Chapter I. Negation, Negative Facts and Wittgenstein's
'Fundamental Idea' 16
I.1 Russell's Distinction Between Negative and
Molecular Propositions 17
I.2 An Account of the Notion of a Negative Fact 21
I.3 Wittgenstein and the Dualism of Positive and
Negative Facts 24
I.4 Negative Facts and the Tractatus 30
I.5 Wittgenstein's 'Fundamental Idea' 33
Chapter II. The Logical Propositions 43
II.1 The Unique Status of the Propositions of Logic 43
II.2 Russell's Account of the Logical Propositions 46
II.3 What Tautologies Express 51