Tuesday, November 13, 2007

5.5541 It is supposed to be possible to determine a priori whether I can get in the position, e.g., of having to symbolize with the sign for a 27-termed relation.

Black (p. 304) says that Wittgenstein “no doubt” has Russell in mind here again, but gives no specific reference and suggests that Wittgenstein is only alleging that Russell supposes this. Ogden’s translation as “It should be possible” is just as good, as far as the German goes. It depends whether we see Wittgenstein as criticizing someone here, and then on who that person might be, etc.

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