We have been talking about the relation of
mathematics to its application.
What we really want to get at is the relation of the role which an experiential
proposition plays to the
role which a mathematical
proposition plays.
For
“mathematical
propositions”, & one kind in particular, sounds like
“experientia
l
propositions”, i.e
., suggests to us an entirely different use than the actual
one.
And we must understand that the meaning of a
proposition lies in the use we make of it & that this is hidden
from us only by the fact that certain associations are
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bound up with our sentences, an imagery which quietens
our || any doubt as to whether what we say are
only mere words.
It has been said that a sentence has not only a meaning but also a soul: & we mustn't let
ourselves be mislead by the appearance of such a
soul.
One could imagine a language without such
souls; in fact
our chemical symbolism is such a
language.
A language in which we would have to decode every
sentence.