'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.




Saturday, November 28, 2009

on certainty 173


173. Is it maybe in my power what I believe? or what I unshakeably believe?

I believe that there is a chair over there. Can’t I be wrong? But, can  I believe that I am wrong? Or can I do so much as bring it under consideration? – And mightn’t I also hold fast to my belief whatever I learned later on?! But is my belief then grounded?



yes –

you can choose what you think about –

what you believe

‘unshakeable’ belief is a pretence –

the better you get at the pretence –

the more stupid you become

there is no right or wrong here –

what we deal with

in our perception and our description –

is uncertainty

belief –

is ‘grounded’ –

in uncertainty


© greg t. charlton