on certainty 453

453. I do indeed say: “Here no reasonable man would doubt.” – Could we imagine learned judges being asked whether a doubt was reasonable or unreasonable?

a doubt is a doubt –

‘reasonable ‘ here – is just another term for acceptable –

someone is asserting an authority –

and deciding whether a doubt is to be allowed or not –

saying that a doubt is unreasonable –

is effectively saying –

the doubt is not allowed –

for all intents and purposes –

it doesn’t exist

so the reasonable / unreasonable distinction –

is really just a  ruse to circumvent doubt –

to deny it –

when the plain reality is –

if a  doubt is raised –

it is raised

© greg t. charlton. 2010.