'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.




Wednesday, June 09, 2010

on certainty 502


502. Could one say “I know the position of my hands with my eyes closed”, if the position I gave always or mostly contradicted the evidence of other people?



yes – you could make the claim –

but it would be an empty  rhetorical claim –

as with any other claim to know

as to the position of your hands with your eyes closed –

an uncertain matter –

and in fact as uncertain as –

any statement about the position of your hands –

with your eyes open


© greg t. charlton. 2010.