18.3.
389. Moore wanted to
give an example to shew that one really can
know propositions about physical objects. – If there were a dispute about
whether one could have a pain in such and such a part of the body, then someone
who just then had a pain in that spot might say: “I assure you, I have a pain
there now.” But it would sound odd if Moore had said: ‘I
assure you, I know that’s a tree.” A personal experience simply has no
relevance for us here.
‘I assure you’ and ‘I know’ – are rhetorical
devices –
the point of which is to persuade
the ‘personal experience argument’ – is in
the same boat
from a logical point of view –
rhetoric of whatever form is irrelevant
the logical reality – without all this
baggage is –
a proposition is put –
it can be assented to – or dissented from –
and again the reasons for assent or dissent
–
are not logically relevant
what is relevant –
is the understanding that the proposition –
regardless of what tricks are used to
persuade –
is open to question –
open to doubt
© greg t. charlton. 2010.
