Vagueness, tolerance and contextual logic

Haim Gaifman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

The goal of this paper is a comprehensive analysis of basic reasoning patterns that are characteristic of vague predicates. The analysis leads to rigorous reconstructions of the phenomena within formal systems. Two basic features are dealt with. One is tolerance: the insensitivity of predicates to small changes in the objects of predication (a one-increment of a walking distance is a walking distance). The other is the existence of borderline cases. The paper shows why these should be treated as different, though related phenomena. Tolerance is formally reconstructed within a proposed framework of contextual logic, leading to a solution of the Sorites paradox. Borderline-vagueness is reconstructed using certain modality operators; the set-up provides an analysis of higher order vagueness and a derivation of scales of degrees for the property in question.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5-46
Number of pages42
JournalSynthese
Volume174
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Contextual logic
  • Degrees
  • Higher order vagueness
  • Semantic indeterminacy
  • Sorites paradox
  • Tolerance
  • Vagueness

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