The Thought (Gedanke): the Early Wittgenstein

Abstract

This paper will attempt to analyse the Tractarian notion of thought (Gedanke) by
particularly focusing on propositions number 3 and 4. The definitions of thought
as given in these two propositions, in the Tractarian picture of the relation
between language, thought and reality appear to be radically different from each
other; one being an ontological interpretation, the other a linguistic one. I
will make an attempt to see whether these two definitions are related and if so
how. I will also attempt to see whether thinking without speaking is possible
from the early Wittgenstenian point of view.