355.
A mad doctor (perhaps) might ask me “Do you know what that is?” and I
might reply “I know that it’s a chair; I recognise it, its always been in my
room”. He says this, possibly, to test not my eyes but my ability to recognise
things, to know their names and functions. What is in question here is a kind
of knowing one’s way about. Now it would be wrong for me to say “I believe that
it’s a chair” because that would express my readiness for my statement to be
tested. While “I know that it…’ implies bewilderment
if what I said is not confirmed.
‘do you know what that is?’ –
the correct answer is –
no – but I can say what it is
what is in question here –
is one’s ability to see clearly –
and speak plainly –
one’s ability to avoid –
irrelevancy and deception
saying ‘I believe’ – like saying ‘I know’ –
is to corrupt a statement –
a proposition –
with unnecessary and irrelevant rhetoric
any statement is up for ‘testing’
and what is confirmation?
basically someone’s assent –
to your statement –
or reassertion of your statement –
in whatever form
once you see that you don’t know –
and accept this and deal with it –
bewilderment dissolves into –
clarity
© greg t. charlton. 2010.
