68. My assumption that this house won’t collapse may be the utterance of
a sentence which is part of a calculation. I do have reasons for it. What counts as a reason for an
assumption determines a calculus. – So is the calculus something we adopt
arbitrarily? No more so than the fear of fire.
As long as we remain in the province of true-false games a change of
grammar can only lead us from one game to another, and never from something
true to something false.
a reason for an assumption – an assumption for an assumption
a calculus is a
language-game –
arbitrarily? –
we have language practices – forms of language behaviour – which have
use – which have currency – these practices can and do change with
circumstances
as to fear of fire – it’s a question of circumstance
there is no necessity in human affairs –
and in a final sense – no non-arbitrary use of language
true is what you give your assent to – false – that which dissent from –
your reasons for assent and dissent are open to question – open to doubt
–
they are uncertain
a change in language use – may or may not result – in a change in the
truth value you give to a proposal
the matter cannot be predicted with certainty –
exactly how anyone will react to any proposal – or change of proposal –
before they react is indeterminate –
true? – false? – no commitment?
and then any reaction – is open to question – open to doubt –
uncertain
© greg t. charlton. 2014.