more from David Lewis

Single Idea 15538

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

Full Idea

Semantic indecision will suffice to explain the phenomenon of vagueness. [note] Provided that there exist the many precisifications for us to be undecided between. If you deny this, you will indeed have need of vague objects.

Clarification

A 'precisification' is one way of making a vague thing precise

Gist of Idea

Semantic indecision explains vagueness (if we have precisifications to be undecided about)

Source

David Lewis (Many, but almost one [1993], 'Two solutions')

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'Papers in Metaphysics and Epistemology' [CUP 1999], p.170


A Reaction

[He mentions Van Inwagen 1990:213-83] There seem to be three solutions to vague objects: that they really are vague, that they are precise but we can't know precisely, or Lewis's view. I like Lewis's view. Do animals have any problem with vagueness?