Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus · Chapter
1.21 explained
This proposition asserts the independence of atomic states of affairs: any one can either hold or not hold without affecting the others, reflecting the logical atomism of the Tractatus.
What happens
This proposition asserts the independence of atomic states of affairs: any one can either hold or not hold without affecting the others, reflecting the logical atomism of the Tractatus.
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Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage marks the story’s dramatic climax because it presents the moment when the protagonist’s obsessive…
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Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Logical Atomism
The independence of atomic states of affairs is a core tenet of logical atomism, as each fact can stand alone without necessitating changes in others.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Wittgenstein
Author of the proposition, articulating the independence of atomic facts.
Key passages
“Any one can either be the case or not be the case, and everything else remain the same.”
Any single atomic fact can either exist or not exist, while all other facts remain unchanged.
Clarifies the mutual independence of atomic states of affairs in Wittgenstein's ontology.
