'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.



Friday, September 03, 2010

on certainty 635


635. “I can’t be making a mistake; I was with him today.”



‘I was with him today’ –

like any other assertion –

is open to question –

open to doubt

the preface ‘I can’t be mistaken’ –

is to say – I am certain’

such a claim is logically bankrupt –

its only value is rhetorical


© greg t. charlton. 2010.
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