237. If I say “an hour ago this table didn’t exist”, I
probably mean it was only made latter on.
If I say “this mountain didn’t exist then”, I presumably
mean that it was only formed later on – perhaps by a volcano.
If I say “this
mountain didn’t exist half an hour ago”, that is such a strange statement that
it is not clear what I mean. Whether for example I mean something untrue but
scientific. Perhaps you think that the statement that the mountain didn’t exist
then is quite clear, however one conceives the context. But suppose someone
said “This mountain didn’t exist a minute ago, but an exactly similar one did
instead”. Only the accustomed context allows what is meant to come through
clearly.
the meaning of any proposition – any proposal –
is open to question – open to doubt –
is uncertain
© greg t. charlton. 2010.
