 Bolzano maintained that there are (es gibt) propositions in themselves, though they are not actual (wirklich), that is, do not act, or enter into causal relations. Thus they have the status often accorded to mathematical objects. And although he thought that the recognition of propositions in themselves was crucial for metaphysics, he also sought to persuade those who did not share his metaphysical views to accept propositions based on pragmatic and methodological considerations (TS, §20, no. 1).