on certainty 429

23.3.51

429.  What reason have I, now, when I cannot see my toes, to assume that I have five toes on each foot?

Is it right to say that my reason is that previous experience has always taught me so? Am I more certain of previous experience than that I have ten toes?

That previous experience may very well be the cause of my present certitude; but is it its ground?

the assumption of five toes on each foot –

is like any assumption –

open to question –

open to doubt

what reason do I have for making the assumption?

who’s to say?

likely you find the assumption appropriate –

for a whole lot of reasons

if you think that previous experience has taught you so –

that may well be your ‘reason’

if you are certain about this assumption –

all that means is that you haven’t thought about it –

you are on this matter operating in ignorance

and if by ‘ground’ here  is meant certainty –

there is no ground

© greg t. charlton. 2010.