logical atomism

The first principle of logical atomism is that the World contains "facts".

In the field of logical atomism, meaning is evaluated differently than with more formal propositions.

Logical atomism is a philosophical belief that originated in the early 20th century with the development of analytic philosophy.

This theory of descriptions was crucial to logical atomism, as Russell believed that language mirrored reality.

At the time Russell delivered his lectures on logical atomism, he had lost contact with Wittgenstein.

Logical atomism sought a firm epistemological foundation for all knowledge in terms of privileged "atomic statements" about "sense data."

While his logical atomism resembles that of Bertrand Russell, the two views are not strictly the same.

Through Kenny's chess analogy, we can see the relationship between Wittgenstein's logical atomism and his picture theory of representation.

The principles of logical atomism

In his early Tractatus, Wittgenstein had brought to conclusion the mandate of logical atomism from Russell.

Logical atomism

He hoped, ultimately, to extend the proofs of the Principia to all possible true statements, a scheme he called logical atomism.

Logical Atomism

Although Wittgenstein did not use the term himself, his metaphysical view throughout the Tractatus is commonly referred to as logical atomism.

The 'Tractatus' is probably most well-known for the logical atomism that Russell himself stressed in it: the 'picture theory' of meaning.

Anthony Kenny provides a useful analogy for understanding Wittgenstein's logical atomism: a slightly modified game of chess.

Ludwig Wittgenstein developed a comprehensive system of logical atomism in his Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus.

35-155 in The Philosophy of Logical Atomism, David Pears (ed.)

Like Russell, Wittgenstein eventually rejected Logical Atomism.

Logical atomism sought to reconstruct statements about the external world from logical combinations of atomic statements about sense data.

Phenomenology, attempting to bracket egocentrism, appears to be more synoptic than analytic philosophy, logical atomism and logical positivism.

However, it became widely known only when Russell gave a series of lectures in 1918 entitled "The Philosophy of Logical Atomism".

Kevin Klement: Russell's Logical Atomism

Ian Proops: Wittgenstein's Logical Atomism

Jeff Speaks: Russell on logical constructions and logical atomism, McGill University 2004