There is, he says, no straight line from these propositions to the solution of any real-life problem; they are of no help and do no work except the non-directing work of telling you that you are on your own.
The propositions are mired in bureaucratic nonsense and trivialities. 
mnli hypothesis: The propositions are mired in bureaucratic nonsense and trivialities.  premise: There is, he says, no straight line from these propositions to the solution of any real-life problem; they are of no help and do no work except the non-directing work of telling you that you are on your own.