on certainty 12

12. – For “I know” seems to describe a state of affairs which guarantees what is known, guarantees it as a fact. One always forgets the expression “I thought I knew”.

there are no guarantees –

and any ‘fact’ – is open to question –

open to doubt

if ‘I know’ is used to guarantee – what is ‘known’ – as a fact –

then in a logical sense –

‘I know’ is misused –

for ‘I know ‘ – so used is false and misleading

still the fact remains ‘I know’ is used in such a manner-

and what this shows is that the real function of ‘I know’ –

is rhetorical –

that is to say –

the point of it is persuasion –

a persuasion based on –

deception

‘I thought I knew’ –

is the realization that –

that if to know – is to be certain –

then –

‘I don’t know’

© greg t. charlton. 2009.