'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, October 26, 2009

on certainty 142


142. It is not a single axiom that strikes me as obvious, it is rather a system in which consequences and premises give one another mutual support.



if it’s not just a single axiom –

but a system of consequences and premises –

that is obvious –

what’s not obvious?

point being ‘obvious’ –

loses any value it has –

if in effect –

everything is obvious

and just how obvious –

are consequences and mutual support?

consequences have to be worked out?

because they are not obvious

and mutual support –

is a matter of argument –

argument is required –

when a matter is not obvious

and what is obvious?

that which is before you –

that has not been thought out –

or argued –

in short –

what you don’t know


© greg t. charlton. 2009.