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Single Idea 21600

[catalogued under 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 4. Structure of Concepts / h. Family resemblance]

Full Idea

'Blue' is vague by some standards, for it has borderline cases, but that does not make it a family resemblance term, for all the shades of blue resemble each other in some respect.

Gist of Idea

'Blue' is not a family resemblance, because all the blues resemble in some respect

Source

Timothy Williamson (Vagueness [1994], 3.3)

A Reaction

Presumably the point of family resemblance is that fringe members as still linked to the family, despite having lost the main features. A bit of essentialism seems needed here.

Book Reference

Williamson,Timothy: 'Vagueness' [Routledge 1996], p.88