on certainty 591

591. “I know what kind of tree that is. – It is a chestnut.”

“I know what kind of tree that is. – I know it’s a chestnut.”

The first statement sounds more general than the second. One will only say “I know” a second time if one wants especially to emphasize certainty; perhaps to anticipate being contradicted. The first “I know” means roughly: I can say.

But in the second case one might begin with the observation “That’s a…”, and then, when this is contradicted, counter by saying: “I know what sort of tree it is”, and by this means lay emphasis on being sure.

yes – I say the ‘I know’ the second time –

to emphasize –

and what that says is that ‘I know’ –

is rhetorical –

and yes – the first ‘I know’ –

means ‘roughly I can say’ –

or as I have put it – repeatedly –

(some might say ad nauseam)

‘I am the author of … ’

‘I know’ is a claim to an authority –

the only authority is authorship –

the claim of authorship –

is logically irrelevant and unnecessary

any other claim to an authority –

is rhetorical –

persuasive – perhaps –

but logically false –

and deceptive

© greg t. charlton. 2010.