'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.




Saturday, March 06, 2010

on certainty 324


324. Thus we should not call anyone reasonable who believed something in despite of scientific evidence.



if I believe something in spite of scientific evidence –

then presumably –

I come at the matter with a non-scientific point of view –

who is to say what perspective is to be used?

who or what is the authority here?

there is no authority – there is only assertion –

someone’s assertion –

and perhaps their pretence

a reasonable person is open –

to different understandings –

different kinds of knowing


© greg t. charlton. 2010.