'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 29, 2010

on certainty 261


261. I cannot at present imagine a reasonable doubt as to the existence of the earth during the last 100 years.



a ‘reasonable’ doubt – is what?

one that is sanctioned – as reasonable

perhaps –

if Wittgenstein dropped this constraint –

of reasonableness –

and thought outside of this box –

he might imagine – a doubt?

but if not –

‘I cannot at present imagine….’ –

is fair enough –

it leaves the matter open –

as it should be


© greg t. charlton. 2010.