April 28, 2006

04.28.06

What do I mean when I say, “I believe X?” This is a misleading question for many reasons, not least of all because one hardly ever actually says, “I believe X.” What I want to say here is something like “The sentence “I believe X” is meaningless because it has no use in our language.” (Compare it with the sentence, “I believe in the existence of certain material objects.”)

Very well then - What is the meaning of the sentence, “I believe it is raining outside?”