Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus · Chapter
5.4732 explained
This aphorism asserts that a sign inherently possesses its correct sense; it is impossible to assign a wrong sense to a sign, as the sense is determined by the logical syntax and the sign's own nature.
What happens
This aphorism asserts that a sign inherently possesses its correct sense; it is impossible to assign a wrong sense to a sign, as the sense is determined by the logical syntax and the sign's own nature.
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…
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Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Limits of Language and Thought
The aphorism touches on the inherent constraints of signs, implying that language has fixed logical boundaries that prevent misassignment of sense.
- Nonsense and Meaning
By stating that a sign cannot be given the wrong sense, Wittgenstein underscores that sense is intrinsic, and any attempt to force a different meaning results in nonsense.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Wittgenstein
Author of the aphorism, presenting a logical point about signs and sense.
Key passages
“We cannot give a sign the wrong sense.”
It is impossible to assign an incorrect meaning to a symbol.
This paraphrase clarifies that the sense of a sign is fixed by logical rules, not by arbitrary assignment.
