Single Idea 12023

[catalogued under 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 10. Vagueness / d. Vagueness as linguistic]

Full Idea

It is very plausible that the sorites paradoxes arose from the application of a semantic apparatus appropriate only for sharp predicates to languages containing vague predicates (rather than from deficiency of meaning, or from incoherence).

Gist of Idea

Vagueness problems arise from applying sharp semantics to vague languages

Source

Graeme Forbes (The Metaphysics of Modality [1985], 7.3)

Book Reference

Forbes,Graeme: 'The Metaphysics of Modality' [OUP 1985], p.169


A Reaction

Sounds wrong. Of course, logic has been designed for sharp predicates, and natural languages are awash with vagueness. But the problems of vagueness bothered lawyers long before logicians like Russell began to worry about it.