on certainty 181

181. Suppose Moore had said “I swear…” instead of “I know…”

                                                                                                                                   

‘I swear…’ would in some ways have more intellectual integrity

we could ask – ‘you swear on what?

meaning what is the authority you are appealing to?

perhaps that is why Moore didn’t say ‘I swear…’ –

he would have to reveal what it is that he thinks is the ground of his authority

and then of course the matter would be open to dispute –

where’s the authority?

perhaps he would end up reverting to ‘I know’ –

and saying –

‘well I know – because I know’

this would be a good outcome

because it would have made clear –

that the ‘authority’ that Moore appeals to –

doesn’t exist

that his ‘authority’ –

is no more than his assertion 

© greg t. charlton. 2009.