Contextualist Theories of Vagueness

Bibliographic Data

ID4079681
AuthorsJonas Akerman (0000-0001-8852-5458, Stockholm University, corresponding author)
Year2012
Volume7
Issue7
Pages470-480
Publication date2012-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhilosophy Compass (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1747-9991 • E-ISSN: 1747-9991
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1747-9991.2012.00495.x
OpenAlexW1867188208
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited23

During the last couple of decades, several attempts have been made to come up with a theory that can handle the various semantic, logical and philosophical problems raised by the vagueness of natural languages. One of the most influential ideas that have come into fashion in recent years is the idea that vagueness should be analysed as a form of context sensitivity. Such contextualist theories of vagueness have gained some popularity, but many philosophers have remained sceptical of the prospects of finding a tenable contextualist solution to the problems of vagueness. This paper provides an introduction to the most popular contextualist accounts, and a discussion of some of the most important arguments for and against them

Context (archaeology · Contextualism · Epistemology · Fuzzy logic · Interpretation (philosophy · Linguistics · Metaphysics · Philosophy of language · Popularity · Skepticism · Vagueness · Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics · History · Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge · Philosophy · Philosophy and Theoretical Science · Psychology · Social Psychology

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