243. One says “I know” when one is ready to
give compelling grounds. “I know” relates to a possibility of demonstrating the
truth. Whether someone knows something can come to light, assuming that he is
convinced of it
But if what he believes is of such a kind
that the grounds that he can give are no surer than his assertion, then he
cannot say that he knows what he believes.
look –
‘compelling grounds’ is whatever one thinks
will be persuasive –
so what we are talking about here is rhetoric
and being ‘convinced of it’ –
is just about ‘talking yourself into it’ –
persuading yourself –
or at least giving the impression –
that you are persuaded
saying you believe –
is to pretend an authority for your
statement –
and that supposed ‘authority’ – is your
belief –
it’s not as strong as the pretence of
knowledge –
but like ‘I know’ – ‘I believe’ –
is a rhetorical devise
here is how it is if you drop the
rhetorical baggage –
you say what you have to say –
others will agree with you –
or they won’t
your statement will be acted on –
or it won’t –
it’ll be useful –
or not
© greg t. charlton. 2010.
