on certainty 125

125. If a blind man were to ask me “Have you got two hands?” I should not make sure by looking. If I were to have any doubt of it, then I don’t know why I should trust my eyes. For why shouldn’t I test my eyes by looking to find out whether I see my two hands? What is to be tested by what? (Who decides what stands fast?)

And what does it mean to say such and such stands fast?

however you decide –

what is to be tested by what –

and whoever decides –

what stands fast –

there will always be doubt

a test is only as good as its assumptions –

and any assumption can be questioned –

in fact if you are interested in being sure –

then don’t question –

don’t test

the real point of testing –

is not establishing certainty –

but rather –

exploring uncertainty

what does it mean to say such and such stands fast?

what it means is that such and such –

is not questioned –

is not doubted –

is not put to the test

© greg t. charlton. 2009.