more from David Wiggins

Single Idea 11875

[catalogued under 9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 3. Unity Problems / e. Vague objects]

Full Idea

It can be perfectly determinate which mountain x is without x's extent's being determinate. A mountain is not, after all, something essentially demarcated by its extent or boundary.

Gist of Idea

Boundaries are not crucial to mountains, so they are determinate without a determinate extent

Source

David Wiggins (Sameness and Substance Renewed [2001], 6.5)

Book Reference

Wiggins,David: 'Sameness and Substance Renewed' [CUP 2001], p.166


A Reaction

This endorses something I have always wanted to assert ('a vague boundary is still a boundary'), but with the interesting addition that one might think about vagueness in terms of what is essential to a thing. Hm....