Single Idea 9054

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

Full Idea

Vagueness and precision alike are characteristics which can only belong to a representation, of which language is an example.

Gist of Idea

Vagueness is only a characteristic of representations, such as language

Source

Bertrand Russell (Vagueness [1923], p.62)

Book Reference

'Vagueness: a Reader', ed/tr. Keefe,R /Smith,P [MIT 1999], p.62


A Reaction

Russell was the first to tackle the question of vagueness, and he may have got it right. If we are unable to decide which set an object belongs in (red or orange) that is a problem for our conceptual/linguistic scheme. The object still has a colour!