on certainty 431

26.3.51

431. “I know that this room is on the second floor, that behind the door a short landing leads to the stairs, and so on.” One could imagine cases where I should come out with this, but they would be extremely rare. But on the other hand I shew this knowledge day in, day out by my actions and also in what I say.

Now what does someone gather from these actions and words of mine? Won’t it just be that I am sure of my ground? – From the fact that I have been living here for many weeks and have gone up and down the stairs every day he will gather that I know where my room is situated. – I shall give him the assurance “I know” when he does not already know things which would have compelled the conclusion that I knew.

  

                                                                                                                               

‘I show this knowledge’ –

is to say –

this is my interpretation of what I do

and my interpretation –

like any interpretation –

is uncertain

how do I know that it is how others interpret what I do?

I don’t

‘what does someone gather from these actions and words of mine?’

I don’t know

yes – I make certain assumptions here –

but that is all they are – assumptions

and my assumptions are uncertain

I can ask others what they gather from my actions –

and if I get an answer to this question –

I will have to interpret it

can I know that my interpretation is correct?

no

what I can know –

is that my interpretation –

is open to question –

open to doubt

if I give the assurance ‘I know’ –

what I am doing is claiming an authority –

for my assertion

the only authority is authorship –

and that I am the author of my assertion –

does not guarantee the assertion –

beyond authorship –

any claim to an authority –

is rhetorical

does rhetoric show that I am sure of myself?

no –

but it does show –

that I am a fraud

nobody is compelled –

to any conclusion

© greg t. charlton. 2010.