'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.




Wednesday, February 24, 2010

on certainty 304


304. But nor am I making a mistake about twelve times twelve being a hundred and forty-four. I may say later that I was confused just now, but not that I was making a mistake.



calculating –

playing a game of sign substitution –

is just that –

playing a game –

and you either play the game –

or you don’t

there is no question of being mistaken or not

there is no question of you being right or wrong here –

it’s just a matter of whether you want to play –

or not –

if you follow the rules –

you play the game –

if you don’t follow the rules –

you don’t play


© greg t. charlton. 2010.