55 We now have to answer a priori the question about all the possible
forms of elementary propositions. Elementary propositions consist of names.
Since, however, we are unable to give the number of names with different
meanings, we are also unable to give the composition of elementary
propositions.
5.551 Our fundamental principle is that whenever a question can be decided
by logic at all it must be possible to decide it without more ado. (And if
we get into a position where we have to look at the world for an answer to
such a problem, that shows that we are on a completely wrong track.)
5.552 The 'experience' that we need in order to understand logic is not
that something or other is the state of things, but that something is :
that, however, is not an experience. Logic is prior to every experience--
that something is so . It is prior to the question 'How?' not prior to the
question 'What?'
5.5521 And if this were not so, how could we apply logic? We might put it
in this way: if there would be a logic even if there were no world, how
then could there be a logic given that there is a world?
5.553 Russell said that there were simple relations between different
numbers of things (individuals). But between what numbers? And how is this
supposed to be decided?--By experience? (There is no pre-eminent number.)
5.554 It would be completely arbitrary to give any specific form.
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