on certainty 630

630. It is simply the normal case, to be incapable of a mistake about the designation of certain things in one’s mother tongue.

the designation of certain things in one’s mother tongue –

is not a certain matter at all –

any designation must be understood in context

no doubt there are common practises –

but a common practise is not a certainty

if circumstance change – practises change

if we operated in a certain world –

ridiculous as that sounds –

there would be no mistakes

and in this real world of uncertainty –

likewise – there are no mistakes –

for in an uncertain world –

a mistake cannot be established –

all usage – is uncertain –

so this notion of a mistake –

is the idea you have –

when you haven’t given the matter any thought –

the ‘mistake’ is a pre-philosophical notion –

if indeed you can call it a ‘notion’ at all –

and it has no place in philosophical logic

so really you can only conclude –

that with the ‘mistake’ –

Wittgenstein missed the boat –

either that –

or he thought –

he could put one over

© greg t. charlton. 2010.