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Single Idea 9051

[from 'Vagueness' by Bertrand Russell, in 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 10. Vagueness / d. Vagueness as linguistic ]

Full Idea

Russell takes it that logic assumes precision, and since natural language is not precise it cannot be in the province of logic at all.

Gist of Idea

Since natural language is not precise it cannot be in the province of logic

Source

report of Bertrand Russell (Vagueness [1923]) by R Keefe / P Smith - Intro: Theories of Vagueness §1

Book Reference

'Vagueness: a Reader', ed/tr. Keefe,R /Smith,P [MIT 1999], p.9


A Reaction

I find this view congenial. It seems to me that the necessary prelude to logic is to do everything you can to eliminate ambiguity and vagueness from the sentences at issue. We want the proposition, or logical form. If there isn't one, forget it?