on certainty 388

388. Every one of us often uses such a sentence, and there is no question but that it makes sense. But does that mean it yields any philosophical conclusion? Is it more of a proof of the existence of external things, that I know that this is a hand, than that I don’t know whether that is gold or brass?

in a world of pretence –

such sentences do make sense

do such sentences yield a philosophical conclusion?

yes the conclusion is that claims of certainty –

are logically baseless –

and that their only value –

is rhetorical

if by ‘proof’ you mean certainty –

there is no proof – of anything

a proposition may well be interpreted –

as asserting the existence of external things –

and what such an interpretation amounts to –

how it is understood –

will be open to question –

open to doubt

the claim to know –

is a claim to an authority for a proposition –

the only authority is authorship –

logically speaking ‘I know’ = ‘I am the author of’ –

it is irrelevant to assert authorship of your assertions

beyond authorship –

any claim to an authority –

can only be regarded as –

rhetorical

© greg t. charlton. 2010.