'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.




Tuesday, August 24, 2010

on certainty 607


607. A judge might even say “That’s the truth – so far as a human being can know it”. But what would this rider achieve? (“beyond all reasonable doubt”).



our knowledge –

is uncertain

a proposition is true –

if assented to

assent – as with dissent –

is open to question –

open to doubt –

is uncertain

the notion of ‘reasonable doubt’ –

is really just the attempt –

to put the kibosh –

on doubt


© greg t. charlton. 2010.