Skip to main content

Logical Atomism and Its Ontological Refinement: A Defense

  • Chapter
Language, Truth and Ontology

Part of the book series: Philosophical Studies Series ((PSSP,volume 51))

Abstract

Russell employed the term ‘logical atomism’ for his own philosophy when it was heavily under the influence of Wittgenstein, and it came to be also applied to the Tractatus. 1 It is now widely believed that logical atomism is untenable. But the differences between Russell and Wittgenstein show that the term `logical atomism’ is general, not singular. Possibly the objectionable aspects of their theories are not essential to logical atomism as such. I shall attempt to give a form of logical atomism which is both natural and plausible, suggest why it is an attractive view, and take steps in the direction of justifying it against standard objections.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bigelow, J. 1988. The Reality of Numbers. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carnap, R. 1958. Introduction to Symbolic Logic and Its Applications. New York: Dover.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartwright, N. 1983. How the Laws of Physics Lie. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Demos, R. 1917. “A Discussion of a Certain Type of Negative Proposition”, Mind n.s. 26, 188–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etchemendy, J. 1988. “Tarski on Truth and Logical Consequence”, Journal of Symbolic Logic 53, 51–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fair, D.F. 1979. “Causation and the Flow of Energy”, Erkenntnis 14, 219–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fox, J.F. 1987. “Truthmaker”, Australasian Journal of Philosophy 65, 188–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freddoso, A.J. 1980. “Ockham’s Theory of Truth Conditions”. Introduction to Ockham’sTheory of Propositions. Part II of the Summa Logicae. Notre Dame: Notre Dame University Press, pp. 1–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frege, G. 1903. Grundgesetze der Arithetik II. Jena: Pohle. Reprinted Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, J. 1964. Wittgenstein’s Logical Atomism. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulligan, K., 1991. “Dispositions: Their Bases and Correlates”, in: P. M. Simons, ed. Essays on Meinong. Munich: Philosophia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulligan, K., Simons, P.M. and Smith B. 1984. “Truth-Makers”, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 44, 278–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, B. 1911. “Le réalisme analytique”. Bulletin de la Société Française de Philosophie 11, 53–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, B. 1972 (RLA) Russell’s Logical Atomism, ed. D. Pears. London: Fontana/Collins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simons, P.M. 1985. “The Old Problem of Complex and Fact”. Theoria 5, 205–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simons, P.M. 1987. “Frege’s Theory of Real Numbers”. History and Philosophy of Logic 8, 25–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simons, P.M. 1989. “Wahrmacher fur Aussagen uber propositionale Einstellungen”, in: G. Falkenberg, ed., Epistemische Ausdrücke und propositionale Einstellungen. Hamburg: Meiner, 199–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swartz, N. 1985. The Concept of Physical Law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Fraassen, B.C. 1980. The Scientific Image. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wittgenstein, L. 1961. (TLP) Tract at us Logico-Philosophicus. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittgenstein, L. 1974. Letters to Russell Keynes and Moore. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Kevin Mulligan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Simons, P. (1992). Logical Atomism and Its Ontological Refinement: A Defense. In: Mulligan, K. (eds) Language, Truth and Ontology. Philosophical Studies Series, vol 51. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2602-1_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2602-1_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5149-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-2602-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics