Colors and Numbers

Authors

  • João Vergílio Gallerani Cuter USP/CNPq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/dp.v6i1.14318

Keywords:

séries formais, cores, números, proposições elementares, Tractatus, Philosophische Bemerkungen, formal series, colors, numbers, elementary propositions

Abstract

It is easy to show that, in the Tractatus, color ascriptions cannot be
elementary propositions. But it is not so easy to determine which kind of analysis
could be made of judgments of perception like "a is red". Wittgenstein gives us a
kind of hint on aphorism 6.3751. He asks the reader to keep in mind the way we
deal with the mutual exclusion of colors within the realm of physics. Even so, it is
difficult to determine what exactly he is trying to say. I offer an interpretation that
links the color exclusion problem with the treatment given to numbers and the
notion of "series of forms" (Formenreihe). Some passages of the Philosophische
Bemerkungen are used to bring some support to this line of thought.

Author Biography

João Vergílio Gallerani Cuter, USP/CNPq

Professor de Lógica e Filosofia da Linguagem da Universidade de São Paulo.

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How to Cite

Gallerani Cuter, J. V. (2009). Colors and Numbers. DoisPontos, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.5380/dp.v6i1.14318

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2009): V. 6 n. 1 (2009) The Middle Wittgenstein

Section

Wittgenstein Intermediário

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