'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.




Wednesday, December 30, 2009

on certainty 208


208. I have a telephone conversation with New York. My friend tells me that his young trees have buds of such and such a kind. I am convinced that his tree is…And I am also convinced that the earth exists.



why?

why not just take what your friend says –

without all the baggage?

what you are convinced of –

is what you don’t question –

and in any case –

it is irrelevant  to the proposition –

put to you

like any baggage you carry –

it too –

is open to question –

open to doubt –

uncertain


© greg t. charlton. 2010.