'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, August 12, 2010

on certainty 579


579. It is part of the language-game with people’s names that everyone knows his name with the greatest certainty.



really – who’s to say what your name is?

whoever names you

you may want a particular name to be used all the time –

you may insist on it

but you can’t be certain that that will happen –

and indeed there may be circumstances –

where in fact it suits you –

to be given a different name –

and to use a different name


© greg t. charlton. 2010.