'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.




Thursday, March 18, 2010

on certainty 351


351. Isn’t the question “Have these words a meaning?” similar to “Is that a tool” asked as one produces, say, a hammer? I say “Yes, it’s a hammer”. But what if the thing that any of us would take for a hammer were somewhere else a missile, for example, a conductor’s baton? Now make the application yourself.



have these words a meaning?

yes – but the matter is uncertain

is that a tool?

yes – but it’s application –

is open to question –

open to doubt


© greg t. charlton. 2010.