on certainty 596

596. If someone tells me his name is N.N. it is meaningful for me to ask him “Can you be mistaken?” That is an allowable question in the language-game. And the answer to it, yes or no, makes sense. – Now of course this answer is not infallible either, i.e., there might be a time when it proved to be wrong, but that does not deprive the question “Can you be…” and the answer “No” of their meaning.

an allowable question in the language-game?

any question is allowable –

because what we face in an ultimate sense is the unknown –

and what we deal with in propositional practise –

is uncertainty

so it’s not a question of what is allowed – or what is not –

where’s the so called ‘authority’ – that determines –

what’s allowed and what’s not?

there is no such authority –

and what goes for ‘authority’ here –

is pretence and stupidity

the real question is –

does it make any sense to speak of a ‘mistake’ here?

and the answer is – no

the ‘mistake’ has no place in this matter –

if you are certain – there can be no mistake –

and in and uncertain world –

there are no mistakes –

there is just different conceptions –

different proposals –

different evaluations

there will not be a time –

‘when it is proved to be wrong’ –

in an uncertain reality –

there is no right or wrong –

again – just different evaluations –

at different times

and yes – in the context of propositional uncertainty –

any question – and any answer –

can be meaningful

© greg t. charlton. 2010.