564. A language-game: bringing building
stones, reporting the number of available stones. The number is sometimes
estimated, sometimes established by counting. Then the question arises “Do you
believe there are as many stones as that?”, and the answer “I know there are –
I’ve just counted them”. But here the “I know” could be dropped. If however,
there are several ways of finding something out for sure, like counting,
weighing, measuring the stack, then the statement “I know” can take the place
of mentioning how I know.
whether it’s ‘I know’ – or how I know –
there will be no certainty –
there will be no ‘finding something out for
sure’ –
any assertion we make – in any circumstance
–
is open to question – open to doubt –
is uncertain
what we use – what we operate with is –
uncertain propositions –
pretending ‘knowledge’ – as in certainty –
doesn’t change this fact –
all it does is load up the proposition –
with unnecessary and irrelevant baggage
and if the issue of ‘knowledge’ becomes the
focus –
the actual proposition will be swamped –
in rhetorical rubbish –
and as result –
sabotaged