on certainty 71

71. If my friend were to imagine one day that he had been living for a long time in such and such a place, etc. etc., I should not call this a mistake, but rather a mental disturbance, perhaps a transient one.

who’s to know – what he had in mind –

when he said what he said?

who’s to know for sure?

the point is –

if you’re smart about it –

you go with what you think is the case –

but you keep an open mind

there is no question of his friend –

making a mistake –

or not making a mistake –

what he said is open to question –

is open to doubt –

is uncertain

NB

if you say –

someone is ‘mentally disturbed’ –

because they say something –

you don’t understand –

really all you are doing –

is labelling –

your own ignorance

© greg t. charlton. 2009.