Single Idea 23501

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 5. A Priori Synthetic]

Full Idea

Whatever we can describe at all could be other than it is. There is no a priori order of things.

Gist of Idea

There is no a priori order of things

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 5.634)

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (Pears)', ed/tr. Pears,D. /McGuinness,B. [RKP 1961], p.58


A Reaction

This is his rejection of Kant's dream, of inferring truths about the world by self-examination. However, compare Idea 23495. He clings to the faith that logic reveals 'something' about reality.

Related Ideas

Idea 23500 My main problem is the order of the world, and whether it is knowable a priori [Wittgenstein]

Idea 23495 The tautologies of logic show the logic of language and the world [Wittgenstein]