ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-NAV-G04-033 · ATLAS 259

Proposition

A proposition in many semantic and philosophical accounts is a content capable of being true or false.

Part of the subject path Pragmatics and Conversation

Why is this entry in the Atlas?

G · Foundational concept R2 · Necessary foundation

Proposition is needed to distinguish truth-evaluable content from wording and a particular utterance event. The unit posited and its conditions of identity remain dependent on the theory used.

Colours and admission grounds

The rectangular label identifies the entry function: F – linguistic figure or procedure; A – analytical concept; G – foundational concept; E – selected concrete case. The rounded badge indicates the admission ground: R1 – distinctive contribution; R2 – necessary foundation; R3 – justified illustrative case. This editorial rationale explains the current selection rather than claiming an undocumented original selection history.

Explanation

A proposition in many semantic and philosophical accounts is a content capable of being true or false. The term separates linguistic form, a particular utterance and what is asserted or thought. Different sentences may express the same content, while one sentence form may express different contents in different circumstances. The individuation of propositions and whether they are needed as entities remain disputed. This entry therefore uses the term as an explicitly stated analytical device. A proposition is not already a fact: false contents can also count as propositions.

Movement of thought

1. Fix the utterance context. 2. Reconstruct the expressed content. 3. Separate wording and utterance act from it. 4. State conditions for truth or falsity. 5. Consider alternative accounts of content.

Scientific use case

Semantic research can test which contextual changes alter asserted content.

Example

“It is raining here” may express different contents when uttered in different locations despite identical wording.

Counterexample

Assertion does not make its content true. A proposition must not be identified with an obtaining fact.

Distinction

Distinguish propositions from sentence forms, utterances, acts of assertion and facts.

Effect on thought and perception

The term permits comparison across different forms of expression.

Resonance

A thought can retain its content while finding different words.

Provenance

Parallel corpus 98f0950771ae4662f291d2f15f5c51b6797f3c20ba458a68615cdb177002ea18; case-bounded source review accepted; human specialist review not claimed.

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Proposition“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-NAV-G04-033. ATLAS 259, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G04-033

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G04-033

The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. Editorial reading state: 2026-10-15. Include your access date for precise references.