'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.




Friday, January 01, 2010

on certainty 214


214. What prevents me from supposing that this table either vanishes or alters its shape and colour when no one is observing it, and then when someone looks at it again changes back to its old condition? – “But who is going to suppose such a thing!” –one would feel like saying.



nothing prevents you from supposing such –

but who is going to suppose such?

a philosopher perhaps?


© greg t. charlton. 2010.