587. Back to the question whether “I know
that that’s a…” says anything different from “that is a …” In the first
sentence a person is mentioned, in the second, not. But that does not shew that
they have different meanings. At all events one often replaces the first form
by the second, and then often gives the latter a special intonation. For one
speaks differently when one makes an uncontradicted assertion from when one
maintains an assertion free of contradiction.
‘I know that that’s a …’ –
is a statement loaded with rhetoric –
that is to say –
the ‘I know that’ –
is claim to an authority –
that doesn’t exist –
and the purpose of the claim –
is persuasion
‘that is a …’-
is the statement –
without the rhetoric –
that is to say –
without the deception
if the issue is persuasion –
then rhetoric has a place –
do your best –
but if you want to simply state your case –
and leave it at that –
then pretence –
will only get in the way –
and corrupt –
your assertion
p.s.
I would
like to see a world –
where people simply –
say what they have to say –
without rhetoric –
without deception –
and where their assertions –
stand or fall –
in the marketplace –
of assent and dissent
such a state of affairs –
is not likely –
on a mass scale –
but where plain speaking –
and plain dealing –
does occur –
the result is clarity –
and honesty
© greg t. charlton. 2010.
