Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus · Chapter
2.15 explained
Wittgenstein explains that the combination of elements in a picture represents the combination of things in reality.
What happens
Wittgenstein explains that the combination of elements in a picture represents the combination of things in reality. The connection of picture elements is called its structure, and the possibility of that structure is the form of representation.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage marks the story’s dramatic climax because it presents the moment when the protagonist’s obsessive…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Picture Theory of Language
This section directly articulates the core of the picture theory, defining structure and form of representation.
- Logical Atomism
The notion of elements combining in a definite way reflects the atomic facts and their structure.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Wittgenstein
Author of the Tractatus, presenting the picture theory of language.
Key passages
“That the elements of the picture are combined with one another in a definite way, represents that the things are so combined with one another.”
The specific arrangement of parts in a picture shows that the corresponding objects in reality are arranged in the same way.
Clarifies the representational relationship between picture elements and real things.
“This connection of the elements of the picture is called its structure, and the possibility of this structure is called the form of representation of the picture.”
The way the parts of a picture are linked is its structure, and the potential for that linking is the picture's form of representation.
Defines key terms 'structure' and 'form of representation'.
