'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.




Tuesday, March 09, 2010

on certainty 331


13.5.
331. If we ever do act with certainty on the strength of belief, should we wonder that there is much we cannot doubt?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

the ‘strength of belief’ is what?

presumably a strong belief –

is one that is not questioned

and if so then strength –

amounts to ignorance

if you act with certainty –

you act without thinking

and if you act without thinking –

no big surprise –

you don’t doubt


© greg t.charlton. 2010.