Up@dawn 2.0

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Sec 19 Group 4 WIlliamson on Vagueness

Timothy Williamson tackles the subject of vagueness in Monday's podcast. He starts off the discussion with introducing the Sorites Paradox. He explains the word 'sorites' is derived from the word meaning heap, which is exactly what the principle deals with. Williamson explains that the paradox is asking the question when does a heap of sand, become a single grain? If you had a finite number of grains, he uses 10,000, and you subtracted one by one at what point does the sand you have left stop becoming a heap and simply just a singular grain? Williamson uses examples of a balding man and the height at which one is considered tall to illustrate the vagueness that we use on a daily basis. "All our language and thought is riddled with vagueness," stated Williamson. Taking into account Williamson's view on the vagueness we encounter on a daily life allows yourself to apply more logical principles to justify the use of language. He considers the fact that vagueness doesn't have to be misinformed or ignorance, it can be merely more convenient for the speaker. In this way it allows to have a less skeptical view on the our daily encounters with vagueness.

Factual Question

Does Williamson believe that vagueness is unavoidable?

Discussion Question

At what point does vagueness turn into fabrication, or vice versa? Do the Williamson's principles apply to this situation?

4 comments:

  1. The topic today on vagueness was very interesting. It looks at more of the details of life. Timothy Williamson says at the end of the chapter, mixed in with all the ignorance, there is genuine knowledge as well and as means of discovery in the middle of this vagueness.

    Diss. Question: Why is vagueness important to talk about in philosophy?

    Fact Question: Does Williamson accept the view of "fuzzy logic"?
    No

    Fact Question: True or False, On the subject of vagueness, Williamson believes there is an answer to discover behind the blur of vagueness but we are limited by our knowledge to answer it completely.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Factual: Does Williamson use vagueness in his language or the way he talks?

    Discussion: How do you think unvague conversations would be?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Joshua Blair (19,4)11:06 AM CST

    D: How do we distinguish what elements in our lives are vague?
    F: What is Tim Williamson's meaning of vague? Borderline Cases

    ReplyDelete
  4. Discussion Question: What is the difference between vagueness and ambiguity?
    Factual Question: Does Williamson believe that ignorance and knowledge are inextricably bound up together? Yes

    ReplyDelete

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