'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.




Sunday, January 31, 2010

on certainty 265



265.  But what does it say, beyond “I have never been to such a place, and have compelling grounds for believing that”?



all that needs to be said is – ‘I have never been to such a place’

and further should a question arise –

‘you can believe me or not’

‘compelling grounds’ is unnecessary and irrelevant

you have no compelling grounds –

all you have is rhetoric –

and that either works or it doesn’t
                                                                                                                             

© greg t. charlton. 2010.