'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.




Saturday, November 15, 2014

Philosophical Grammar 40


40. In what cases shall we say that the man understands the word “blue”? In what circumstances will he be able to say it? or be able to say he understood it in the past?

If he says “I picked the ball out by guesswork, I didn’t understand the word”, ought we to believe him? “He can’t be wrong if he says he didn’t understand the word”: a remark on the grammar of the statement “I didn’t understand the work”.



in what cases shall we say that the man understands the word “blue’?

there should be an emphasis here on ‘we’ –

for the question is when do we understand – that he understands?

presumably when he acts in a way that ‘we’ recognise – as understanding –

whatever that amounts to – at the time

and ‘we’ here might not be solid –  how would we know –

that is how do I know that what I recognise as understanding – at the time –
is what you regard as understanding?

‘in what circumstances will he be able to say it?’ –

who can say?

no doubt someone will have a go –

but that is not the point –

the point is he makes the claim –

and like any utterance –

it is open to question – open to doubt –

‘or be able to say he understood it in the past?’

as to the past –

that too – is well and truly up for grabs –

how often to do we reinterpret the past?

if he says it was guesswork – should we believe him?

logically speaking we should regard his claim as open to question –

open to doubt

and if he says ‘I didn’t understand the word’

exactly the same logic applies



© greg t. charlton. 2014.