Combining Texts

Ideas for 'The Rationality of Science', 'fragments/reports' and 'Critical Common-Sensism'

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2 ideas

9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 3. Unity Problems / e. Vague objects
Vagueness is a neglected but important part of mathematical thought [Peirce]
     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.
     From: Charles Sanders Peirce (Critical Common-Sensism [1905], I)
All communication is vague, and is outside the principle of non-contradiction [Peirce]
     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.
     From: Charles Sanders Peirce (Critical Common-Sensism [1905], I)
     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.