Single Idea 21591

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

Full Idea

My thesis is that vagueness is an epistemic phenomenon. In cases of unclarity, statements remain true or false, but speakers of the language have no way of knowing which. Higher-order vagueness consists in ignorance about ignorance.

Gist of Idea

Vagueness is epistemic. Statements are true or false, but we often don't know which

Source

Timothy Williamson (Vagueness [1994], Intro)

Book Reference

Williamson,Timothy: 'Vagueness' [Routledge 1996], p.3


A Reaction

He has plumped for the intuitively least plausible theory. It means that a hair dropping out of someone's head triggers a situation where they are 'bald', but none of us know when that was. And Rembrandt became 'old' in an instant.