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Wholegrain Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Does it make any difference to say "I think I know" instead of "I thought I knew"?
12. "--For "I know" seems to describe a state of affairs which guarantees what is known, guarantees it as a fact. One always forgets the expression "I thought I knew'."
I am asking because the author seems to only stress the fact that the expression "I know" implies absolute certainty and because of that it does not make any difference to say whether "I thought I knew" or "I think I know" here.
I am asking because the author seems to only stress the fact that the expression "I know" implies absolute certainty and because of that it does not make any difference to say whether "I thought I knew" or "I think I know" here.
Top answer
"I think I know" expresses reasonable confidence that you do know, though less confidence than "I know". "I thought I knew" expresses doubt about whether you really do know, or realisation that you actually don't know. ".
- "I think I know" expresses reasonable confidence that you do know, though less confidence than "I know".
- "I thought I knew" expresses doubt about whether you really do know, or realisation that you actually don't know.
- ".
- You could say the same about any verb.
- "I left my keys in my coat pocket" is definite; "I thought I left my keys in my coat pocket" is uncertain, or means that you now realise you actually didn't.
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2 Answers
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"I think I know" expresses reasonable confidence that you do know, though less confidence than "I know". "I thought I knew" expresses doubt about whether you really do know, or realisation that you actually don't know.
I don't really understand what point the author is trying to make by "One always forgets...". You could say the same about any verb. "I left my keys in my coat pocket" is
I don't really understand what point the author is trying to make by "One always forgets...". You could say the same about any verb. "I left my keys in my coat pocket" is
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The statement is from Wittgenstein's "On Certainty", and it is a matter of advanced philosophy, particularly epistemology and skepticism.
The philosopher says that "I know" seems to imply absolute certainty, but, as I understand it, he may be stressing that the implication is only appearance. You would need to consult a Wittgenstein expert on the subtleties of the argumentation.
The philosopher says that "I know" seems to imply absolute certainty, but, as I understand it, he may be stressing that the implication is only appearance. You would need to consult a Wittgenstein expert on the subtleties of the argumentation.
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