Re: A Fine Point
Charles Glendinning (CGlendin@AOL.COM)
Wed, 14 Oct 1998 16:43:19 EDT
In a message dated 10/13/98 11:33:24 AM, cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK writes:
<<Belief is sometimes the precursor of knowledge, and sometimes it isn't.
You can believe something without knowing it, and subsequently have your
believe confirmed by reliable information. But you can also believe
something and subsequently have it overturned by reliable information.>>
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...so far, so good
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<<Esther starts to say she "believes" Alan Woodcourt not to be rich, and then
corrects it to "knows," because she doesn't just believe, and it would be
dishonest to imply she does.>>
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Alright, so in correcting herself, does she *want* us to believe that there is
a deeper desire to "know" Allan Woodcourt? If so, then I don't quite
understand where you are going here:
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<<She has been tempted to say "believe" because to say "know" lets a big cat
out of the bag. It indicates she has been interested enough to check up, and
that reveals more of the state of her feelings than she is altogether happy
with.>>
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Maybe I am more dense than I give myself credit for, but it still seems to me
rather confusing to use the term "at least." By its use, it connotes to me
something lesser rather than more. If I have understood you correctly, then
it would seem more appropriate for her to have said:
"I believe -- no, I'm quite sure I know -- that he was not rich."
Am I missing something?
Sincerely,
Charles Glendinning