on certainty 389

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.