'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.




Thursday, July 08, 2010

on certainty 545

17.4
545.  “A child knows which colour is meant by the word “blue”. What he knows here is not at all simple.



a child can apply the word ‘blue’ –

and before learning to doubt –

before recognizing uncertainty –

the application is – without knowing

Wittgenstein says –

‘what he knows here is not at all simple’

if he has learnt to question

to deal with uncertainty –

yes there is complexity in this


© greg t. charlton. 2010.