Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus · Chapter
3.3 explained
This proposition asserts that sense is a property of propositions alone, and that names only acquire meaning within the context of a proposition.
What happens
This proposition asserts that sense is a property of propositions alone, and that names only acquire meaning within the context of a proposition.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
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…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Limits of Language and Thought
The proposition highlights the boundary of sense, which is only found in propositions, not in isolated names.
- Logical Atomism
The distinction between names and propositions reflects the atomic structure of language and reality.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Wittgenstein
Author of the proposition.
Key passages
“Only the proposition has sense; only in the context of a proposition has a name meaning.”
A proposition is the only bearer of sense; a name gains meaning only when used within a proposition.
Clarifies the dependency of name meaning on propositional context.
