An Inquiry on The Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

Abstract

It is possible to read Ludwig Wittgenstein’s first  work Tractatus  Logico-Philosophicus, which we can see as a follower of  Gottlob Frege and Bertrand Russell, in the light of these two philosophers. In this work, Wittgenstein synthesizes the ideas of Frege and Russell and puts  forward a philosophical theory of language. According to him, the problems of philosophy stem from the misunderstanding of the logic of language. Because everyday  language conceals the logic of language. What needs to be done is to lift the veil and focus under the veil, only in this  way can the logic of language be seen and understood. Since language  and  the world are constructed through logic and language paints the  world, only sentences that present a possible picture of the world are meaningful. Only the natural sciences can produce such sentences or propositions. Since philosophy is not one of the natural sciences, it cannot produce meaningful propositions. In fact, according to Wittgenstein, this is not the task of philosophy. With this determination, the traditional pursuits of philosophy have assumed an absurd identity. It is now necessary to put aside absurd questions and chart a new path  for philosophy. In this context, Wittgenstein assigns two tasks to philosophy: constructive and  destructive. The destructive task of philosophy is to show philosophers every time that their propositions are absurd. At this point, philosophy is the police officer who puts a stop to absurdity [...]