Ideas from 'Critical Common-Sensism' by Charles Sanders Peirce [1905], by Theme Structure
[found in 'Philosophical Writings of Peirce' by Peirce,Charles Sanders (ed/tr Buchler,Justus) [Dover 1940,0-486-20217-8]].
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9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 3. Unity Problems / e. Vague objects
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14797
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Vagueness is a neglected but important part of mathematical thought
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Full Idea:
Logicians have too much neglected the study of vagueness, not suspecting the important part it plays in mathematical thought. It is the antithetical analogue of generality.
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From:
Charles Sanders Peirce (Critical Common-Sensism [1905], I)
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14798
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All communication is vague, and is outside the principle of non-contradiction
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Full Idea:
The 'vague' might be defined as that to which the principle of contradiction does not apply. For it is false neither that an animal (in a vague sense) is male, nor that an animal is female. No communication between persons can be entirely non-vague.
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From:
Charles Sanders Peirce (Critical Common-Sensism [1905], I)
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A reaction:
Note that he makes vagueness largely a matter of the way we talk, which is David Lewis's approach, and looks right to me.
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