Single Idea 9116

[catalogued under 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 10. Vagueness / c. Vagueness as ignorance]

Full Idea

Vague words have hidden boundaries. The subtraction of a single grain of sand might turn a heap into a non-heap.

Gist of Idea

Vague words have hidden boundaries

Source

Roy Sorensen (Vagueness and Contradiction [2001], Intro)

Book Reference

Sorensen,Roy: 'Vagueness and Contradiction' [OUP 2004], p.1


A Reaction

The first sentence could be the slogan for the epistemic view of vagueness. The opposite view is Sainsbury's - that vague words are those which do not have any boundaries. Sorensen admits his view is highly counterintuitive. I think I prefer Sainsbury.