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Sunday, December 05, 2010

If we wonder how we can talk, do we also wonder whether ... ?

If I wonder whether it is possible to talk, it cannot be because I'm wondering whether 'it is possible to talk' is true.

I must be wondering in some other way - some way which requires interpretation. I must be in a potentially ambigous intentional state, whereas if I say that I wonder what day it is I cannot - by accident, for instance - be wondering something else.

If I say 'I wonder whether it is possible to talk?' you might be puzzled: I can't be believe we can't talk without rendering my statement uninterpretable. If my statment means anything, then I can't be seriously wondering.

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