It is not strictly true to say that we understand a proposition p
if we know that p is equivalent to
“p
is true” for this would be the case if accidentally both were
true or false.
What is wanted is the formal equivalence with respect to the forms of
the proposition,
i.e., all the general
indefinables involved.
The sense of an
ab function of a
proposition is a function of its sense.
There are only unasserted propositions.
6
Assertion is merely psychological.
In
not-p,
p
is exactly the same as if it stands alone; this point is absolutely
fundamental.
Among the facts that make “p or q” true there are also facts
which make “p and q” true; if propositions have only
meaning, we ought, in such a case, to say that these two propositions are
identical, but in fact, their sense is different for we have
introduced sense by talking of all p's and all
q's.
Consequently the molecular propositions will only be used in cases
where their
ab function stands under a
generality sign or enters into another function such as “I
believe that,
etc
.”, because
then the sense enters.