'For the person or persons that hold dominion, can no more combine with the keeping up of majesty the running with harlots drunk or naked about the streets, or the performances of a stage player, or the open violation or contempt of laws passed by themselves than they can combine existence with non-existence'.

- Benedict de Spinoza. Political Treatise. 1677.




Friday, May 21, 2010

on certainty 472

472. When a child learns a language it learns at the same time what is to be investigated and what not. When it learns that there is a cupboard in the room, it isn’t taught to doubt whether what it sees later on is still a cupboard or only a kind of stage set.



however –

latter on – the child may doubt whether what it sees is a cupboard or a stage set –

as to why?

well that is a matter of speculation –

perhaps –

at some time the child was taught the value of questioning –

of doubt –

or it might just be that doubt is a natural and primal response to reality –

and that it will occur –

regardless of how one is taught?                                                                                                              

© greg t. charlton. 2010.