'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.




Monday, June 21, 2010

on certainty 523


523. And indeed no one misses doubt here; no one is surprised that we do not merely surmise the meaning of our words.



whether anyone misses doubt here or not – is not the issue

‘knowing the meaning of a word’ – is always a question of use

there may be convention here – but there is no certainty

and therefore any ‘knowledge’ here – is surmise


© greg t. charlton. 2010.