'For the person or persons that hold dominion, can no more combine with the keeping up of majesty the running with harlots drunk or naked about the streets, or the performances of a stage player, or the open violation or contempt of laws passed by themselves than they can combine existence with non-existence'.

- Benedict de Spinoza. Political Treatise. 1677.




Friday, June 05, 2009

on certainty 18


18. “I know” often means: I have the proper grounds for my statement. So if the other person is acquainted with the language-game, he would admit that I know. The other if he is acquainted with the language-game, must be able to imagine how one may know something of the kind.



‘I know’ is a claim to an authority

the so called ‘proper grounds’ –

will be reassertions of this claim to authority

any so called ‘argument’ put up –

will be a reworking of the original claim

if someone is persuaded by this –

they will give their assent

the language game we are talking about here –

is rhetoric


© greg t.charlton. 2009.