137. Even if the most trustworthy of men
assures me that he knows things are
thus and so, this by itself cannot satisfy me that he does know. Only that he
believes he knows. That is why Moore’s assurance that he knows…does not interest us. The propositions,
however which Moore retails as examples of such known truths are indeed interesting.
Not because anyone knows their truth, or believes he knows them, but because
they all have a similar role in the
system of empirical judgments.
a proposition is used
‘assurance’ is rhetoric
as to ‘roles’ and ‘systems’ –
that’s a matter of how usage –
is described –
and that’s anyone’s call
© greg t. charlton. 2009.