'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.




Monday, July 06, 2009

on certainty 56


56. So when one says: “Perhaps this planet doesn’t exist and the light-phenomenon arises in some other way”, then after all one needs an example of an object which does exist. This doesn’t exist, - as for example does….

Or are we to say that certainty is merely a constructed point to which some things approximate more, some less closely? No. Doubt gradually loses its sense. This language-game just is like that.

And everything descriptive of a language-game is part of logic.



outside of description – what exists – is unknown –

where a description – for one reason or another – doesn’t work –

then we need to come up with another description –

and put it to the test of utility

‘Doubt gradually loses its sense.’

yes – if you stop questioning – if you stop thinking

‘This language-game just is like that’ –

any use of language –

is a game of questioning –

is a game of doubt

‘And everything descriptive of a language-game is part of logic’

logic itself is a language game –

the point being –

there is no ground to description –

there is no end to it

any description – is open to question –

is open to further description –

always the question will be –

which description functions?

which description works?

the matter is always uncertain 


© greg t. charlton. 2009.