Single Idea 23508

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / G. Scientific Philosophy / 3. Scientism]

Full Idea

The totality of true propositions is the whole of natural science (or the whole corpus of the natural sciences).

Gist of Idea

Science is all the true propositions

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus [1921], 4.11)

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (Pears)', ed/tr. Pears,D. /McGuinness,B. [RKP 1961], p.25


A Reaction

So if it is true, it is science. What about truths about science? What about true speculations beyond science? What about bad science? What about trivial everyday truths? This is said to be a rare precursor of logical positivism in Tractatus.