on certainty 542

542. “I can’t describe this flower if I don’t know that this colour is called ‘red’.”

first up –

not every functional and useful description of ‘this flower’

will refer to its colour

secondly –

in my language community – yes the colour is called ‘red’ –

in other language communities – or in different contexts within a language community –

it may have – and will have –

different names

the only knowledge here –

is the knowledge of usage –

of practise –

and this – as is obvious –

is an uncertain matter

finally –

outside of any circumstance of use –

the colour has no name –

it is an unknown

© greg t. charlton. 2010.