'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.



Monday, March 01, 2010

on certainty 314


314. Imagine that the schoolboy really did ask “and is there a table there even when I turn around, and even when no one is there to see it?” Is the teacher to reassure him – and say – “of course there is!”?

Perhaps the teacher will get a bit impatient, but think that the boy will grow out of asking such questions.

                                                                                                                                  

the answer the teacher should give to the schoolboy’s question is – ‘I don’t know’


© greg t. charlton. 2010.
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