on certainty 1

1. If you do know that here is one hand, we will grant you all the rest.

When one says that such and such a proposition can’t be proved, of course that does not mean that it can’t be derived from other propositions; any propositions can be derived from other ones. But they may be no more certain than it is itself. (On this a curious remark by H. Newman.)

‘If you do know that here is one hand, we will grant you all the rest.’

if you are certain of one proposition  -

any derived from it – will be certain?

the question is can you be certain of any proposition?

certainty is what?

a claim to an authority that is beyond question –

first up the only authority you have is authorship –

secondly any proposition – any proposal – you put forward –

is open to question – open to doubt

the claim of certainty is at best no more than a rhetorical claim –

the point of which is to persuade – yourself – or others –

of an authority (beyond authorship) – that you don’t have –

it ‘s a false claim – based the in deception or ignorance

and yes – derivation – is really just a language game –

it guarantees nothing

© greg t. charlton. 2009.