on certainty 438

438. It would not be enough to assure someone that I know what is going on in a certain place – without giving him grounds that satisfy him that I am in a position to know.

‘I know’ –

is a claim to an authority for an assertion –

the only authority is authorship

the authorship of a proposition –

is logically irrelevant

if the claim of authority –

is other than the claim of authorship –

it is logically false

such claims may have rhetorical effect –

however it is an effect –

based on deception

what you have with a statement of grounds –

is really no more than restatements –

of the original rhetorical claim –

more of the same

if you satisfy someone that you are in a position to know –

you’ve deceived them

© greg t. charlton. 2010.