on certainty 492

492. “Do I know or do I only believe…?” might also be expressed like this: What if it seemed to turn out that what until now has seemed immune to doubt was a false assumption? Would I react as I do when a belief has proved to be false? or would it seem to knock from under my feet the ground on which I stand in making any judgments at all? – But of course I do not intend this as a prophesy.

Would I simply say “I should never have thought it!” – or I (have to) refuse to revise my judgment – because such a ‘revision” would amount to annihilation of all yardsticks?

what seems to be the case – is what is the case

what seems to be the case –

it is all we have to go on at any time

the ground of our perception is uncertainty –

therefore nothing is immune from doubt

no belief is ever proved to be false –

a belief is false if you dissent from it –

for whatever reason

which is to say – if you decide against it –

and all decision – all judgment –

is uncertain

uncertainty is the very reason for judgment –

and all one’s yardsticks –

are uncertain

© greg t. charlton. 2010.