Proposition One, Point One, and Beyond

Proposition One, Point One, said Wittgenstein, ignoring the flow of conversation, is this:

The world is the totality of facts, not of things.

That's quite good, said Irma. That means there are not just icecreams, but facts about icecreams as well, that make up the world.

Yes, said Emma. Such as this icecream has raisins in it. And that icecream is smeared all over Professor Freud's glasses.

Oh, said Professor Freud. Is that why I can't see?

Would you like to borrow my handkerchief? asked Saint Nicholas.

No thank you, said Professor Freud stiffly.

What's the matter? asked Saint Nicholas.

There may be certain facts about your handkerchief, said Professor Freud.

I assure you there are not, said Saint Nicholas. Do go on, Ludwig, he said to Wittgenstein.

Ludwig! giggled Emma.

Be quiet, Emma, said Professor Freud.

Does anyone understand what I'm saying? asked Wittgenstein.

Yes of course we do, said Irma. You are saying that philosophy does not need a special language.

Then, said Wittgenstein, I see that I may skip to my final proposition, which is Proposition Seven.

Good, said Saint Nicholas, because we really must be going soon. What is it?

It is, said Wittgenstein, as follows:

What we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence.

I can't agree with that, said Professor Freud.

Proposition One

Irma turned again to Wittgenstein.

If you're a philosopher, she said, you must have a philosophy. What is it, exactly?

It is laid out simply in my Tractatus, said Wittgenstein.

Eeuuw ! said Emma. What's your tractatus?

Now then, Emma! said Professor Freud. It is his famous philosophical publication the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. Your sister was asking a serious question. Listen to the answer.

I have answered, said Wittgenstein.

No you haven't, said Irma. What does it say, the Tractatus?

Wittgenstein sighed.

It says: Proposition One: The world is all that is the case.

Most profound, said Professor Freud. What do you think, girls?

It's not, said Irma. Because it's obvious. What's Proposition Two?

Never mind that yet, said Wittgenstein. It generally takes people longer to understand Proposition One.

Well, I understand it, said Irma.

So do I, said Emma.

I don't, said Saint Nicholas. What about miracles?

Wittgenstein looked pained.

If a miracle can be shown to be a fact, then it is part of the logical world. But once it becomes a fact, it is no longer truly a miracle.

Steady on! cried Saint Nicholas. That isn't right! What about.....?

Are you a philosopher too? interrupted Emma.

No, said Saint Nicholas. I'm a saint. I thought you knew who I was.

You're a fat man who is really bad at Paintball, said Irma.

Well, thank you, said Saint Nicholas. Thank you very much. At least I joined in.

You did, said Professor Freud. And you will do better next time.

That might require a miracle, said Saint Nicholas.