on certainty 633

633. “I can’t be making a mistake” – but what if I did make a mistake then, after all? For isn’t that possible? But does that make the expression “I can’t be etc.” nonsense? Or would it be better to say instead “I can hardly be mistaken”? No; for that means something else.

‘I can’t be making a mistake’ –

is to say ‘I am certain’ –

a proposition is a proposal –

open to question –

open to doubt –

uncertain

the claim of certainty –

undermines any proposition –

it is illogical

‘I can hardly be mistaken –

amounts to –

begrudgingly recognizing uncertainty

if you understand –

that any proposition –

any proposal –

is uncertain –

it is unnecessary and redundant –

to state the fact

© greg t.charlton. 2010.