back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 6135

[from 'Objects and Persons' by Trenton Merricks, in 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 10. Vagueness / b. Vagueness of reality ]

Full Idea

Some would say that annihilating grains of stone from the statue of David (playing the 'Sorites Game') could never make its identity vague, because metaphysical vagueness is simply unintelligible.

Clarification

The 'Sorites Game' tests identity by gradually removing parts

Gist of Idea

A crumbling statue can't become vague, because vagueness is incoherent

Source

Trenton Merricks (Objects and Persons [2003], §2.II)

Book Reference

Merricks,Trenton: 'Objects and Persons' [OUP 2003], p.33


A Reaction

He cites Russell, Dummett and Lewis in support. But Russell is a logical atomist, and Lewis says identity is composition. It strikes me as obvious that identity can be vague; the alternative is the absurdities of the Sorites paradox.