Tuesday 1 December 2015

Paradox in Jeeves and Wooster?

P.G. Wodehouse, whom I mentioned before, probably had a bit of a chuckle when he wrote the following exchange, between Wooster and his 'manservant' Jeeves:
'Good Lord, Jeeves! Is there anything you don't know?'
'I could not say, sir.'
(P.G. Wodehouse. 2008. The World of Jeeves. Arrow Books, p. 273)
There's a distinct hint of paradox in Jeeves's reply, especially if it's not taken to mean 'My inferior position prevents me from bragging about my knowledge, sir' but 'I have no idea, sir' or 'I don't know, sir, if there's anything I don't know' -- in which case, of course, there IS something he doesn't know!

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