June 07, 2012
Supposition
In his book How We Think, author John Dewey says, “To say, ‘I think so’ implies that I do not
as yet know so. The inferential belief may later be confirmed and come to stand
as sure, but in itself it always has a certain element of supposition.” I’m
still digesting Mr. Dewey’s statement because I have never considered that
saying I think means I don’t yet
know. However, it does make sense. Jesus was always asking others, ‘What do you
think?’, but He himself never told others, ‘I think so’. I’m going to work on
changing my vocabulary. I think I may have to stop thinking about things I
already know.
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2 comments:
Gail;
-----""Think" is a frustrating word. It’s meanings are spread all over the map from forming thoughts and comprehending stuff to holding opinion, having a regard, viewing something in a certain way, to intending a plan or foreseeing a situation. It seems to be a word of more connotation than denotation. And that probably is pretty much the kind of word with which one should discuss the processes and results of constructing knowledge.
-----We like to think knowledge is substantial and permanent. But it is evasive and watery. If you mess with it too much it becomes dilute and meaningless, spreading all over the table. If you don’t mess with it enough it runs through your fingers and disappears into the ground. Any attempt to contain it changes its shape into that of its container. “I think” might be a perfect term for “I know“. Even Paul said, “If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if one loves God, one is known by Him.” (I Cor 8:2-3) I think he more than hints about the important aspect of knowledge.
-----Knowledge is very important in the particular. Phone numbers, addresses, work places, work schedules, what to eat, what not to eat, traffic rules, etc., etc., etc., and etc. ad infinitum. There is no end of pertinent details to know. But fortunately, proximate circumstances limit what you need to know. They’re like, well, containers. So they also set you up for the fall. Circumstances change continuously and sometimes drastically. When they change, the limits change. So you might wake up one morning and find all the pertinent, particular knowledge you know is now beyond the limits, and you now know nothing you should know (kind of like when Barrak Obama was elected.)
-----Broader knowledge is like artwork. It adorns your perceptions and gives flavor to your life and should more properly be termed “philosophy”. But it doesn’t change much the way you cut your steak or pull on your pants. These are more practical matters. And the most practical matter is fortunately the easiest to know. I’ve always been impressed by the simplicity of the most important affair to any human being - eternal life. Call Jesus. You don’t even need a phone number. Just call. Love Him and He will know you.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
Gail;
-----""Think" is a frustrating word. It’s meanings are spread all over the map from forming thoughts and comprehending stuff to holding opinion, having a regard, viewing something in a certain way, to intending a plan or foreseeing a situation. It seems to be a word of more connotation than denotation. And that probably is pretty much the kind of word with which one should discuss the processes and results of constructing knowledge.
-----We like to think knowledge is substantial and permanent. But it is evasive and watery. If you mess with it too much it becomes dilute and meaningless, spreading all over the table. If you don’t mess with it enough it runs through your fingers and disappears into the ground. Any attempt to contain it changes its shape into that of its container. “I think” might be a perfect term for “I know“. Even Paul said, “If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if one loves God, one is known by Him.” (I Cor 8:2-3) I think he more than hints about the important aspect of knowledge.
-----Knowledge is very important in the particular. Phone numbers, addresses, work places, work schedules, what to eat, what not to eat, traffic rules, etc., etc., etc., and etc. ad infinitum. There is no end of pertinent details to know. But fortunately, proximate circumstances limit what you need to know. They’re like, well, containers. So they also set you up for the fall. Circumstances change continuously and sometimes drastically. When they change, the limits change. So you might wake up one morning and find all the pertinent, particular knowledge you know is now beyond the limits, and you now know nothing you should know (kind of like when Barrak Obama was elected.)
-----Broader knowledge is like artwork. It adorns your perceptions and gives flavor to your life and should more properly be termed “philosophy”. But it doesn’t change much the way you cut your steak or pull on your pants. These are more practical matters. And the most practical matter is fortunately the easiest to know. I’ve always been impressed by the simplicity of the most important affair to any human being - eternal life. Call Jesus. You don’t even need a phone number. Just call. Love Him and He will know you.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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