more from Ludwig Wittgenstein

Single Idea 23483

[catalogued under 3. Truth / C. Correspondence Truth / 2. Correspondence to Facts]

Full Idea

Correlation need only be between elements of the picture and things in reality; it is not also required that there be a correspondence between the picture as a whole and a fact in reality - so things can be depicted falsely.

Gist of Idea

Proposition elements correlate with objects, but the whole picture does not correspond to a fact

Source

report of Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 2.15121) by Michael Morris - Guidebook to Wittgenstein's Tractatus 3C

Book Reference

Morris,Michael: 'Guidebook to Wittgenstein's Tractatus' [Routledge 2008], p.129


A Reaction

To turn his picture theory into a correspondence theory of truth would need a further step, of saying the proposition is true when the two structures coincide. I don't think LW says that.

Related Ideas

Idea 4702 The account of truth in the 'Tractatus' seems a perfect example of the correspondence theory [Wittgenstein, by O'Grady]

Idea 10967 Wittgenstein's picture theory is the best version of the correspondence theory of truth [Read on Wittgenstein]