'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 582




582. “I know that” may mean I am quite familiar with it – or again it is certainly so.



if ‘I know that’ means ‘I am quite familiar with it’ –

‘I am quite familiar with it’ –

will do the trick –

and there’s no reason to use the phrase –

‘I know that’

and furthermore –

being ‘quite familiar with it’ –

is to be acquainted with it –

‘knowledge by acquaintance’ –

is incomplete and uncertain knowledge

if ’I know that’ means –

‘it is certainly so’ –

then ‘I know that’ –

is a statement of deception –

and has no place –

in honest dealing


© greg t. charlton. 2010.