on certainty 574

574. The question is, what kind of proposition is “I know I can’t be mistaken about that”, or again “I can’t be mistaken about that”?

This “I know” seems to prescind from all grounds: I simply know it. But if there can be any question at all of being mistaken here, then it must be possible to test whether I know it.

a proposition is a proposal –

open to question –

open to doubt –

uncertain

‘I know I can’t be mistaken’ –

or ‘I can’t be mistaken about this’ –

are claims of certainty

they are not propositions –

they are statements of prejudice

if ‘I know’ prescinds all grounds –

it is not open to question –

open to doubt –

it is a claim of certainty –

and logically irrelevant –

to any proposition –

to any proposal

as to the ‘mistake’ –

the ‘mistake’ does not arise –

if you claim certainty

and if on the other hand –

you recognize –

that your propositions –

are uncertain –

there are no mistakes –

all you have –

is uncertainties

the point is  –

certainty or uncertainty –

the ‘mistake’ –

is not in the picture –

it’s a fraud –

a ring-in

any genuine proposition –

is open to question –

open to doubt –

is testable

© greg t. charlton. 2010.