on certainty 409

409. If I say “I know that that’s a foot” – what am I really saying? Isn’t the whole point that I am certain of the consequences – that if someone else had been in doubt I might say to him “you see – I told you so”? Would my knowledge still be worth anything if it let me down as a clue in action? And can’t it let me down?

the ‘I know’ in ‘I know that that’s a foot’ –

is a claim of authority for the proposition –

‘that’s a foot’

the only authority is authorship  -

and so ‘I know’ –

is irrelevant and unnecessary

if you are certain of the consequences of your statement –

you are a fool –

you can’t know what the consequences will be

fair enough to take a punt –

and you can still say ‘I told you so’ –

if it turns out as you expected –

there is no knowledge here –

there is only expectation

and the ‘ground’ of expectation –

is uncertainty

© greg t. charlton. 2010.