5.44 Truth-functions are not material functions.

If one can produce, e.g., an affirmation by double negation, is then negation – in any sense – contained in the affirmation? Does “~~p” negate ~p, or affirm p; or both?

The proposition “~~p” does not deal with negation as with an object; but the possibility of negation is already presupposed in affirmation.

And were there an object called “~” then “~~p” would have to say something other than “p.” Since the one proposition would then deal with ~, the other not.

Yes. Clearly, logic is not metaphysics.