Non-propositional

Non-propositional describes something that does not express or involve a proposition, which is a statement that can be either true or false. It encompasses forms of communication, thought, or experience that lack a declarative structure and instead rely on alternative ways of conveying meaning, understanding, or engaging with information. This includes sensory experiences, emotional responses, artistic expressions, implicit knowledge, and processes of thought that operate outside the framework of logical statements. It emphasizes the limitations of viewing reality solely through statements with inherent truth value. Instead of making a claim, non-propositional experiences are more concerned with eliciting an emotional or aesthetic response.

Non-propositional meaning with examples

• Witnessing a vibrant sunset is a non-propositional experience. The beauty and emotional impact are felt directly, rather than expressed as a truth claim. The experience evokes feelings of awe and tranquility that can not necessarily be translated to a direct statement, in contrast to stating, 'The sun set at 7 pm.' It bypasses logical analysis and is rooted in immediate perception.
• Music, particularly instrumental pieces, often operates in a non-propositional way. Its melodies and harmonies evoke emotions, tell stories, and create moods without making explicit declarations. A symphony might express joy or sorrow without the need for verbal assertions, relying on its evocative power to transfer its message of feelings through the arrangement of sounds.
• The act of imagining a scene, such as a fantastical landscape, is a non-propositional activity. While the scene has internal consistency, it doesn't present a statement about the actual world. The primary activity is creating the thought and visualizing what isn't there. No truth value can be placed on the thought except by it’s creator.
• A painter's use of color and form in an abstract artwork is non-propositional. The goal isn't to state a fact but to generate aesthetic responses, perhaps inspiring feelings of energy or serenity. There is no literal image, but rather a depiction of a feeling. While viewers may interpret the artwork differently, the primary purpose is evocative rather than declarative.