on certainty 561

561. “I know” and “You can rely on it”. But one cannot always substitute the latter for the former.

‘I know’ –

is a claim to an authority –

the only authority –

is authorship –

beyond that –

any claim to authority –

is rhetorical

‘you can rely on it’ –

is a claim to an authority –

and like ‘I know’

or any other such claim –

it’s only value –

is rhetorical

so given that both assertions –

are rhetorical –

they amount to the same thing –

hot air

© greg t.charlton. 2010.