Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus · Chapter
Truth-Operations on Elementary Propositions explained
Wittgenstein defines truth-functions of elementary propositions as the results of operations, which he calls truth-operations, that take elementary propositions as their bases.
What happens
Wittgenstein defines truth-functions of elementary propositions as the results of operations, which he calls truth-operations, that take elementary propositions as their bases.
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
- Logical Atomism
The discussion of elementary propositions as bases for truth-operations reflects the logical atomist view that complex propositions are built from simple, atomic elements.
- Logic and Tautology
Truth-operations on elementary propositions are central to understanding how logical truths and tautologies are generated.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Wittgenstein
Introduces the concept of truth-operations as the operations that yield truth-functions from elementary propositions.
Key passages
“The truth-functions of elementary proposition, are results of operations which have the elementary propositions as bases. (I call these operations, truth-operations.)”
Truth-functions of elementary propositions are produced by applying operations—which I call truth-operations—to those elementary propositions.
Clarifies that truth-functions are not primitive but derived via specific operations on elementary propositions.
