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.
