'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 28, 2010

on certainty 533



533. Well, if it was correct to describe this state out of context, then it was just as correct to utter the words “that’s a tree” out of context. 



when Moore sat in front of a tree  and said ‘I know that’s a tree’ –

he was not speaking – out of context

‘his state at the time’ – was his context –

and by prefacing – ‘that’s a tree’ –

with ‘I know’ –

he makes clear that his state was –

delusional


© greg t. charlton. 2010.